Iran's Security Council Holds Emergency Session In Wake Of Bombings

Iran’s Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei (left), President Ebrahim Raisi (center), and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf during a Security Council meeting
Iran’s Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei (left), President Ebrahim Raisi (center), and Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf during a Security Council meeting

Iran's Supreme National Security Council held an emergency session on Thursday to “expedite efforts to arrest and prosecute” those responsible for the Kerman attack.

The twin blasts on Wednesday resulted in numerous casualties near the grave of IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani during the ceremony commemorating the fourth anniversary of his death.

The explosions, reported by Iranian state television, occurred at the cemetery in Kerman where the 2020 killing of the top IRGC commander was being commemorated.

During the emergency session, the Supreme National Security Council urged intelligence agencies to “promptly follow leads and identify the individuals behind the incident.” The Council aimed for “swift identification and punishment of those accountable for the event.”

As reported by the state news agency IRNA, the session also underscored the importance of “precisely identifying and reporting the role of the masterminds behind the attack”, amid allegations among Iranians that the attack was state backed. No state officials or members of the former Quds Force commander’s family attended the event, raising suspicions of regime involvement.

IRNA quoted the Council, stating, "The individuals, who consistently support terrorism and target innocent men, women, and children globally, will be held accountable for their involvement in this particular incident."

Additionally, the council revealed that relevant authorities have received directives to implement preventive measures against future acts of terrorism.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi revised the death toll to 84, down from the initial reports of 103 and later 95. Additionally, Mizan, the Judiciary's news agency, has published a list indicating 32 fatalities and 284 injuries.