Over 100 killed in blasts near Qassem Soleimani’s grave in Iran

Over 100 people were killed and several others injured in two explosions in Iran, identified as 'terrorist attacks' during a ceremony commemorating the late top commander Qassem Soleimani on Wednesday. The event took place at the cemetery in the southeastern city of Kerman, where Soleimani was laid to rest after being killed by a US drone in 2020.

"Undoubtedly, the perpetrators ... of this cowardly act will soon be identified and punished for their heinous act by the capable security and law enforcement forces. The enemies of the nation should know that such actions can never disrupt the solid determination of the Iranian nation,” said Iran's president Ebrahim Raisi condemned the blasts.

Iranian state television reported that the explosions were heard near Qasem Soleimani's gravesite but did not provide specific information on the cause of the blasts. The report mentioned that a number of individuals suffered injuries in a stampede following the explosions, ambulances were immediately rushed to the accident site.

According to Nournews, there were reports of several gas canisters exploding on the road leading to the cemetery. A local official, as cited by Iranian state media, stated that the cause of the explosions is not yet determined, raising the possibility of either gas cylinders or a terrorist attack.

Explosions were also noted within a 15-minute timeframe in the central province of Kerman, with the Islamic Republic News Agency quoting the deputy governor as saying that the nature of the blasts, whether a gas explosion or a "terrorist attack," remains unclear.