Iran mourns 89 slain in IS suicide blasts

KERMAN, Iran — Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi joined mourners in Kerman on Friday for the funerals of the 89 people killed in twin blasts claimed by the Islamic State group, state media said.

Suicide bombings struck crowds in the southern city, where many had gathered on Wednesday to commemorate assassinated general Qassem Soleimani, on the fourth anniversary of his death in a drone strike carried out by the United States.

The two attacks on Wednesday also wounded about 280 others. They have sparked condemnation from around the world, even amid Iran's wider tensions with the West over its nuclear program.

The victims include multiple women and children and at least a dozen Afghan nationals, it said.

Despite the claim of responsibility by the IS terror group, Iranian officials have continued to suggest Israeli and US involvement.

The IS "has disappeared nowadays", said Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami during the funeral ceremony, arguing the extremists "only act as mercenaries" for US and Israeli interests.

The United States rejected any suggestion that it or its ally Israel were behind the bombings, while Teheran's arch foe Israel did not comment.

Iran's Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told state TV that "some individuals involved in the attack have been arrested".

Salami vowed that Iran "will find you wherever you are", referring to any IS members behind the bombing plot.

And Raisi said revenge for the killings will come at "the time and place determined by our forces".

Friday's funeral took place at the Emam Ali mosque in Kerman, where crowds gathered in front of dozens of coffins wrapped in the Iranian flag, according to state media.

The mourners waved the national flag as well as the yellow flag of Hezbollah along with portraits of Soleimani.

Raisi, who arrived in Kerman to attend the funerals, also visited Soleimani's grave.

In a statement, the United Nations Security Council condemned what it called a "cowardly terrorist attack" and sent its condolences to the victims' families and the Iranian government.

Agencies Via Xinhua