Tehran earlier blamed the explosions on “terrorists” and vowed revenge for the bloodiest such attacks since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The twin blasts also wounded 284 people,including women and children.
“A very strong retaliation will be meted out to them by the hands of the soldiers of Soleimani,” Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber told reporters in Kerman.
Earlier,an unnamed source told the state news agency IRNA that the first explosion at the cemetery in Kerman,Soleimani’s home town,“was the result of a suicide bomber’s action”.
“The cause of the second blast was most likely the same,” the source told IRNA.
The United Nations Security Council in a statement condemned Wednesday’s “cowardly terrorist attack” in Kerman and sent its condolences to the victims’ families and the Iranian government.
State TV showed crowds gathered at dozen cities across Iran,including Kerman,chanting:“Death to Israel” and “Death to America”.