Saudi Arabia has condemned two deadly explosions in Iran at a ceremonial procession that killed and injured hundreds and put the region on edge. The explosions struck minutes apart on Wednesday, shaking the city of Kerman, about 820 kilometers southeast of the capital, Tehran.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed the Kingdom’s rejection and condemnation of the terrorist bombings that targeted civilians in Iran,” a statement said.
The Islamic State claimed responsibility on Thursday for the bombing, according to a post on the extremist group’s official Telegram account.
The Ministry extended it condolences and sympathy to Iran, wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
The blasts, at least one of which was caused by a bomb, state TV said, threatened to accelerate tensions in the region that have spiked since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The blasts were the deadliest to hit Iran since the 1979 revolution.
Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi had blamed Israel for the explosions, saying it will pay a “heavy price.”
“I warn the Zionist regime, do not doubt that you will pay a heavy price for this crime and the crimes you have committed,” Raisi said in a televised speech from Tehran, according to CNN.
