Mysterious Explosion at Iran Claims Over 100 Lives, U.S. Denies Involvement

An unexplained large explosion occurred at the Martyrs’ Cemetery in Kerman, southeastern Iran. This resulted in over 100 deaths and numerous injuries. The incident comes a day after Israel attacked the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and killed a senior Hamas leader, escalating tensions in the Middle East. The U.S. government has dismissed the possibility of U.S. or Israeli involvement.

According to AFP, on the 3rd (local time), two explosions occurred approximately 15 minutes apart. Simultaneously, thousands of supporters gathered to commemorate the death of Qasem Soleimani, whom a U.S. drone attack killed in Baghdad in 2020. These events resulted in at least 103 fatalities and 188 injuries. Soleimani, a respected figure in Iran, had been the commander of the elite Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard.

Iranian officials have stated that two explosive devices were positioned along the route leading to Soleimani’s grave and appeared to have been triggered remotely. Footage released by Iranian state television captured the harrowing scene of wounded individuals in distress. Iran has categorically labeled this incident as an act of ‘terrorism’ carried out by external entities, with suspicions pointing towards Israel as the responsible party.

Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, said about the explosion, “The evil and criminal enemies of the Iranian nation once again created a disaster,” according to the state-run IRNA news agency. He emphasized, “They should know that this disaster will have a harsh response, God willing.”

The U.S. State Department has firmly denied any involvement of the United States or Israel in the act of terrorism. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, categorically stated, “The United States was not involved in any way, and any suggestion to the contrary is ridiculous.” He further emphasized, “We have no reason to believe that Israel was involved in this explosion.” It’s worth noting that Israel has yet to issue an official statement regarding the matter.

By. Hong Woo Yoon