Vahid Jalalzadeh, the head of the Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said that no group has claimed responsibility for the explosions in Kerman. A taskforce from the committee is set to visit the site of the incident for further investigation.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a condemnation regarding the killing of Saleh al-Arouri, a senior Hamas official.
Al-Arouri, serving as Hamas's deputy leader abroad, was targeted in an alleged Israeli strike in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold in Beirut on Tuesday, part of the Jewish state's mission to destroy the UK designated terror group after the October 7 invasion.
The IRGC's statement claimed that attempts to “rectify the defeat on [October 7] through acts of assassination and crime are futile. The Zionist regime, currently facing challenges, is deemed incapable of distorting the resistance's strategic calculations through such actions,” disregarding the fact that since the attacks, Gaza has been devastated by Israel's relentless retaliation and dozens of its top commanders assassinated.
Naser Kanaani, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman, also condemned Israel's "despicable" actions, labeling them as killings that will serve to further motivate the region to resist Israel. Despite the condemnation, Iranian government websites provided minimal coverage of the event on Wednesday as the regime marked the fourth anniversary of the death of former IRGC Quds Force Commander Qasem Soleimani, killed in a US drone strike on January 3, 2020.
Al-Arouri, a founding member of Hamas's military wing, had overseen the group's operations in the West Bank and spent nearly 18 years in Israeli prisons since the early 1990s. Residing in Lebanon since 2018, he was known for his close ties to both Hezbollah and Iran. His West Bank home was also flattened in the wake of the October 7 attacks.
Since the October 7 invasion led by Iran-backed Hamas into Israel, resulting in the loss of 1,200 lives, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of over 240 more, Iran's proxies have been activated across the region.
Attacks on both Israel and US facilities across the region have intensified, Iranian proxies in Yemen, Lebanon, Iraq, and Syria claiming to stand in support of Hamas, culminating in the worst crisis witnessed in recent years.
Iran's Yemeni proxy, the Houthis, have implemented a blockade of the Red Sea and surrounding area, leading to a more than 20-nation coalition being formed by the US to counter the threat to global trade routes.
Ahmad Vahidi, the Minister of Interior in the Islamic Republic, addressed the public following the death of scores of people and the injury of over 250 in the blasts near the burial site of Qasem Soleimani.
Vahidi stated, "The situation in Kerman is normal, and everything is under control. People should not worry because our security and military forces are vigilant and prepared."
According to him, the majority of the casualties from the incident occurred during the second explosion.
He warned that the military and security forces of the Islamic Republic would retaliate.
Ninety-five people were killed and 211 injured after two explosions occurred near the grave of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani on his fourth death anniversary.
Iranian state television reported a first and then a second explosion at the cemetery in the southern city of Kerman during the ceremony held to mark the 2020 killing of the top IRGC commander in a US drone attack at Baghdad airport.
Iranian officials have made conflicting statements since the incident. The mayor of Kerman and some government-controlled media claimed that the explosions were due to gas blasts, while others said it was a suicide attack, and yet other officials said bombs were placed on the road to the cemetery.
Local media reported that the condition of some of those injured was critical, while one emergency medical staff member, who was rushing to the scene after the first explosion, was killed by the second blast.
The number of casualties, first reported as 20 dead climbed quickly, as local media put the latest number at 103 people killed and more than 170 injured in the incident. However, it remains unclear if all the casualties were due to the explosions or a stampede that reportedly followed the incidents.
The semi-official Nournews said soon after the incident that "several gas canisters exploded on the road leading to the cemetery and relevant authorities are monitoring the situation".
However, later reports spoke of four explosions and a hardliner member of parliament blamed Israel for what he said was a terror attack conducted with suicide belts. Semi-official media reported that two bombs were placed in separate bags.
In more than two decades at the head of the IRGC’s Quds forces, Soleimani managed to create a loose but effective coalition of forces spanning from Yemen to Lebanon, all with domestic interest but united in their enmity towards Israel and the US.
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Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei urged citizens to “fulfill their duty” to participate in the upcoming elections amid a purge of regime loyalists.
Addressing concerns about efforts to discourage elections, Khamenei addressed supporters on Wednesday, saying, "Some individuals do not wish for the elections to take place, and they strive to make the people despaired, erode their trust, and pretend that elections are futile and inconsequential."
He called for actions against those attempting to “weaken public engagement in the country's administration”, which comes amid continued mass dissent in the wake of the 2022 uprising.
He claimed a "hostile movement" is seeking to undermine the electoral process, though it is estimated as little as 15 percent of voters will participate given the current with the status quo.
The ongoing purification campaign led by hardliners within the Paydari Party initiated earlier in the year to consolidate political power, resulted in dismissals and bans for numerous university professors, teachers, and artists.
The dominance of hardliners began in 2020 when the Guardian Council disqualified hundreds of individuals from running for parliament. In the 2021 presidential elections, serious contenders were barred, paving the way for Ebrahim Raisi's presidency.
As the March 1 elections approach, the absence of reformist and moderate groups due to disqualifications raises concerns about low voter turnout. Reports suggest that ultraconservatives may even welcome a low turnout.
While Khamenei expresses a desire for high voter turnout, the actions of his followers, particularly the hardliners, indicate a lack of intention to provide a fair chance to their rivals, the Reformists.
Reformist groups, largely excluded in the previous two elections, face challenges in mobilizing voters as many of their candidates have already been disqualified.
The Interior Ministry's discretionary disqualifications, coupled with the Guardian Council's vetting powers, further limit the scope for a diverse and competitive electoral landscape.
