2LT International News

In an apparent terrorist attack, more than one hundred people have been killed and at least 188 injured, in the southern Iranian city of Kerman, after bombs exploded at a commemorative parade.

The twin attacks occurred on Wednesday in the vicinity of the gravesite of top Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani, who was assassinated four years ago on the order of then-U.S. President Donald Trump.

The parade was mourning Soleimani on the fourth anniversary of his death.

Iran has blamed Israel for the bombings. Israel has made no comment

The first explosion occurred 700 meters from the Soleimani’s tomb and the second one about one kilometer away.

Two suitcases packed with explosives are believed to be the source of the explosions. It is understood they were detonated remotely.

The first explosion took place at 14:50 local time. The second one occurred ten minutes later, according to Kerman Mayor Saeed Tabrizi.

Iran’s Red Crescent Society, local branch of the International Red Cross, said 3 of its workers were killed by the second blast.

“Once again, the wicked and criminal enemies of the Iranian nation created a tragedy and martyred a large number of dear people in Kerman and in the fragrant atmosphere of martyrs’ tombs,” Iran’s leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei said Wednesday.

“They must know that this act of creating a tragedy will be followed by a stern response by God’s will,” he said.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Matt Miller said he had no ‘independent information’ relating to the attacks, and that the State Department has “no reason to believe that Israel was involved.”

“We have been following the reports rather closely. We don’t have any independent information to offer on them. We do express our sympathies to the victims and their loved ones who died in this horrific explosion. As I said, it’s too early, at least for us, to be able to say what might have caused it,” Miller told reporters at a press briefing Wednesday.

“But I do want to address some of the irresponsible claims that I have seen circulate and say that, number one, the United States was not involved in any way, and any suggestion to the contrary is ridiculous; and number two, we have no reason to believe that Israel was involved in this explosion.”

At this point Miller was asked “why not?”

“We just do not have any information to believe that that’s the case,” Miller replied.

“Did someone suggest that they were? I mean, other than the -,” the questioner asked.

“We have seen multiple accusations related to both supposed fictional United States involvement, and as I said, we have no reason to believe Israel was involved either,” Miller responded.