Terrorist Attack Kills and Wounds More than 40 IRGC Members…Iran Vows Revenge

A number of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) forces have been killed in a terrorist attack in southeastern Iran.

The IRGC personnel were traveling between the cities of Zahedan and Khash, in Sistan and Baluchestan province on Wednesday, when their bus was targeted in a suicide car bomb attack.

The IRGC’s Qods Headquarters said in a statement that an explosives-laden car rammed into the bus, which was taking the personnel back to their homes, according to Press TV.

The attack killed 27 IRGC members and injured 13 others, initial reports suggested.

 The so-called “Jaish ul-Adl” terrorist group reportedly claimed responsibility for the bombing, Press TV said.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi condemned the attack and said the victims will soon be avenged.

 “The self-sacrificing military and intelligence sons of the Iranian nation will take revenge for the blood of the martyrs of this incident,” the Iranian spokesman said.

Terrorist groups carrying out similar attacks against Iranian interests in southeastern and southwestern parts of the country have known links to Saudi Arabia and a number of other repressive regimes in the Gulf region.

Riyadh is widely believed to be a key sponsor of the Takfiri terrorists, who are inspired by Wahhabism, an extremist ideology preached by Saudi clerics.

US, Israel behind the attack: Hizbollah

The Lebanese resistance movement Hezbollah has strongly denounced a deadly terrorist attack on a group of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) forces in southeastern Iran, accusing the US, the Israeli regime and their regional allies of nurturing the Takfiri elements behind the Wednesday attack.

Hezbollah said in a statement the attack that killed 27 IRGC members and wounded 13 others portrayed the true image of the organized terrorism led by the US government, which encourages other countries to follow suit.

“Intimidated by the Iranian nation’s huge turnout in the [Monday] rallies marking the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, these criminal groups sought to send a bloody message” by carrying out the suicide attack, the statement added.

“These crimes will not weaken the Iranian nation, and will rather increase their power and motivation to continue the path of progress and prosperity,” it added.

The Lebanese movement also pointed to the simultaneity of the terrorist attack and an anti-Iran conference held by the US in Warsaw, Poland, describing it as a sign of the US government’s harmony with criminals and murderers seeking to destabilize Iran and harm its security.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had noted that it is not coincidental that terrorists have attacked the IRGC on the same day that the anti-Iran summit organized by the United States kicked off in Poland.

In a tweet on Wednesday, Zarif raised suspicion about the deadly attack’s possible links to what he described as the “circus” in Warsaw.

“Is it no coincidence that Iran is hit by terror on the very day that #WarsawCircus begins? Especially when cohorts of same terrorists cheer it from Warsaw streets & support it with twitter bots? US seems to always make the same wrong choices, but expect different results,” he wrote.

Attack masterminded by foreign spy services’

In a message, Iran’s First Vice-President Es’haq Jahangiri said the crime has been masterminded and implemented by the spy services of hegemonic powers and their evil hirelings.

“[The attack] will not only fail to undermine the nation’s determination to defend the Islamic Revolution, but also will strengthen the national resolve for a relentless fight against terrorism,” he added.

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry also condemned the “terrorist attack”, expressed solidarity with the Iranian nation and government, and offered condolences to the families of the victims.

H.M