Iran: at least 103 dead in a double explosion near the tomb of General Soleimani

It occurred near the cemetery in the city of Kerman, where a ceremony was being held for the fourth anniversary of the death of the terrorist leader eliminated by a U.S. drone in 2020.

At least 103 people died this Wednesday in Iran in a double explosion during the commemoration of the anniversary of the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani, according to the state television of the Islamic Republic.

The attack, according to the station, took place near the grave of the terrorist in charge of foreign operations of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, eliminated by a U.S. drone in 2020 and buried in the Saheb al-Zaman mosque in the city of Kerman, in the south of the country.

At least 170 people were injured, according to Iranian state media. Iranian state television described the explosions as a "terrorist attack". Iran declared an official day of mourning on Thursday 4 January following the attack.

The blasts came at a time of heightened tension in the Middle East, a day after Hamas's number two, Iranian ally Saleh al Aruri, was killed in a drone strike in Beirut, which the Lebanese authorities attributed to Israel.