Sunday 23 September 2018 - 19:25
Story Code : 320454
World offers condolences to Iran over Ahvaz terrorist attack
At least 29 people were killed and 70 others woundedin Ahvaz on Saturday, when terrorists opened fire on people from behind a viewing stand at a military parade held to mark the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's invasion of Iran in the 1980s.
According to IRNA (the Islamic Republic News Agency), the dead and wounded were both military personnel and civilians including a journalist who were watching the parade.
Three of the attackers were gunned down during clashes with the security forces and one other was arrested, news agencies reported.
Meantime, media reports said that both Daesh and the Saudi-backed
claimed responsibility for the assault.
"The terrorists disguised as Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and Basiji (volunteer) forces opened fire to the authority and people from behind the stand, leaving a number of innocent people including women and children martyred or injured," the governor of Khuzestan, Gholam-Reza Shariati told IRNA.
Iranian officials have blamed Persian Gulf states and the United States for Saturday's attack and accused them of backing the Arab separatist "al-Ahvaziya armed group".
Iran's officials vigorously condemn Ahvaz terrorist attack
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei stated the terrorist attack in Ahvaz was the continuation of plots hatched by US stooges in the region to create insecurity in the country, noting that Irans intelligence services must swiftly find the accomplices of the "criminals behind the attack and put them on trial.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said the Islamic Republic will give a "crushing" response to the slightest threat against the country.
"Those who are providing these terrorists with propaganda and intelligence support must be held accountable," Rouhani said.
Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Iran will respond swiftly and decisively in defense of its people.
Hewrote on Twitter that terrorists recruited, trained, armed & paid by a foreign regime were responsible. Iran holds regional terror sponsors and their US masters accountable, Zarif said.
A senior advisor to Irans Leader Ali Akbar Velayaticondemned the attack as a criminal and cowardly act targeting the dignity of Islamic Republic of Iran.
He said that Iranian people and Islamic Establishment have so far successfully thwarted the conspiracies of terrorist Takfiri groups, which are backed by the United States, the Israeli regime and their puppet regional allies, to divide the regional countries, vowing a vigorous response to their latest cowardly and heinous terrorist act.
Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri pledged that the Islamic Republic will severely respond to Saturdays terrorist attack,
At the onset of a glorious show of the Islamic Republic of Irans defense capabilities on the occasion of the beginning of the Sacred Defense Week, a number of decadent elements who enjoy the financial and propaganda support of some regional countries, in a blind terrorist act, opened fire on the innocent people present at the ceremony which led to the martyrdom and wounding of a group of our beloved compatriots, he stated.
Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Deputy Commander for Political Affairs Brigadier General Yadollah Javani warned that the IRGC will give a crushing response to the terrorists and their supporters who masterminded the Saturday attacks.
General Javani underscored that such crimes by enemies will further unite the Iranian nation.
World leaders censure Ahvaz deadly terror incident
The United Nations Secretary General Antnio Guterres in a statement on Saturday denounced the terrorist attack in the Iranian southwestern city of Ahvaz.
"He expresses his condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government and people of Iran. He wishes those injured a speedy recovery," the statement reads.
Russian President Vladimir Putin in a message extended condolences on the occasion of a deadly terrorist attack, underliningdeveloping cooperation in fighting terrorism between Iran and Russia.
He also hoped for punishing all agents affiliated with the criminal and bloody attack.
These attacks once again reminded us of the need to all-out fight against terrorism, the Kremlin message reads.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in a message to President Hassan Rouhani condemned Ahvaz terrorist attack and said that Syria is standing by Iran against terrorist moves.
"I offer my heartfelt condolences to your Excellency and friendlyIraniannation over deaths of innocent people and we strongly condemn the terrorist crime and cowardly attack," President Assad said.
UKs Minister of State for the Middle East, Alistair Burt, has offered condolences and wrote in a tweet,We send our deepest condolences to the people of Iran following the attack in Ahvaz this morning."
The UK envoy to Iran Rob Macaire also in a message blasted the terrorist attack and said, "A shocking terrorist attack. Wherever it happens terrorism must be condemned. All our condolences to the families of the victims."
French Foreign Ministry in a statement expressed condolences over the deadly terrorist move. The country sympathized with victims of the incident, saying France is following up developments through its diplomatic mission in Tehran.
German Ambassador in Tehran Michael Klor Berchtold in a message expressed condolences and wrote in a tweet, "Just back from Germany, I am shocked to hear about the terrible terrorist attack in #Ahvaz. We express our deepest condolences to the people of #Iran. Our thoughts are with the families affected. We hope everybody injured will recover soon."
Austrian Envoy to Tehran Stefan Scholz in a message issued condolences over the deadly attack and tweeted, "Austria offers heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims of the horrific terrorist attack in Ahvaz."
The Spanish government in a statement posted on its Foreign Ministry website, condemned the terrorist attack, voicing its solidarity with the Iranian government and nation and extends its condolences to the bereaved families of the victims and wishes prompt recovery of the injured persons.
Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement deplored Ahvaz attack and saidWe strongly condemn this heinous terrorist attack. We wish Allahs mercy upon those who lost their lives and a speedy recovery to the wounded. We convey our condolences to the people and Government of Iran."
Defense Minister of Azerbaijan Republic Colonel General Zakir Hasanov in a message condemned the terrorist incident in Ahvaz and expressed his condolences to his Iranian counterpart Brigadier General Amir Hatami and Chief of Staff of Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in a message to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani condemned the act of terror in Ahvaz and saidSuch anti-human acts will make us more resolute in the fight against the evil global phenomenon of terrorism,
Afghanistans chief executive Abdullah Abdullah in a message condemned terrorist attack andwrote in his tweet, Terrorist attack in Ahvaz which killed a number of innocent civilians, especially women and children, grieved us.
With this crime, terrorist revealed their enmity with regional nations, he said, noting, I share the Iranian nation and governments sorrow at this hard juncture.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko in a message to his Iranian counterpart condemned terrorist attack in Ahvaz and condoled the deaths of a number of civilians.
Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah in a message condemned the terrorist attack,extending condolences over the death of Iranian military forces and civilians.
Meanwhile, the Crown Prince of Kuwait Nawaf Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah and Kuwaiti Prime Minister Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah in separate messages condoled with victims of the deadly attack.
Speaker of the Kuwaiti National Assembly Marzouq Al-Ghanim, for his part, referred to the recent attack as terrorist act.
Pak Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal in a tweet message said, "Our deepest condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this heinous attack. Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations."
Meanwhile, Pakistan ambassador in Tehran Riffat Masood in a message denounced the terrorist attack and tweeted, "Strongly condemn #AhvazAttack. Thoughts and prayers for all those who have suffered in this cowardly act of terrorism. Pakistan stands in solidarity with brotherly Iran at this difficult time."
Iraqi Interior Minister Qasim al-Araji condemned the terrorist incident, saying the attack which happened on the occasion of the anniversary of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's attack on Iran indicated the hostile nature of terrorists against the Muslim people of Iran.
Hassan al-Kaabi, Iraqi Parliament's first deputy speaker condemned the terror attack,expressing sorrow over the assult which claimed the lives of military men and civilians including children and women.
Lebanon Assembly of Muslim Scholars comprising dozens of Shia and Sunni scholars of the country in a statement denounced terrorist attack in Ahvaz, describing it as one of the US plots to undermine Irans campaign for helping oppressed people.
Lebanese Hezbollah in a statement slammed terrorist attack in southwestern Iran, saying it was a clear reaction to great victories achieved by the Axis of Resistance in various fronts.
The Foreign Ministry of Indonesia in a message issued condolences over the terror attack and said "Indonesia expresses its deepest condolences and sympathy to the victims and their families."
The Palestine Islamic Jihad Movement, denouncing the terrorist attack in southwestern Iran, said in a statement that such measures against the country are the result of Irans solid stance against the Zionist regime and its confrontation with US regional dominance.
Venezuela President Nicols Maduro in a statement sympathized with bereaved families of the victims of terror attack and saidVenezuela is for other countries in the world in the idea that peace is the only way for humans.
US reacts to Ahvaz terror attack, stopping short of denunciation
Spokesman for the US National Security Council, Garrett Marquis, reacted to Ahvaz terror incident by not condemning it, but by saying Iranian government should focus on keeping Iranians "safe at home".
While issued statements of condemnation of the terrorist attacks mostly include denouncing such strikes, Marquis refused to say a single word to show Washington's denunciation of the attack.Instead, he chose to only sympathize with the Iranian people.
In the same vein, the Spokesperson for the United States Department of State, Heather Nauert, offered a too-late statement, claiming they stand with the Iranian people.
Moreover, the Western and Saudi media have refrained from terming the deadly attack in the Iranian city of Ahvaz a terrorist act despite the large number of civilian casualties in the incident.
# Tags
