Tehran (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Representatives of the Iranian government have accused foreign powers (the West, U.S., Israel, ...) of being behind the attacks on a mosque in Zahedan two days ago in which 27 people died. The attacks were condemned by the UN, the United States, the European Union and Arab countries.
The deputy interior minister, Abdollah Ali this morning issued a statement on the state television’s website . "The perpetrators of this crime - he said - have been trained outside our borders and then come to Iran".
"This act of blind terrorism - he added - was perpetrated by the mercenaries of 'world arrogance'," a terminology typically used to designate the Western powers.
The attack on the Jamia mosque in Zahedan (Sistan-Baluchistan in) was claimed by the Sunni extremist group Jundallah fighting against the Pasdaran (the Revolutionary Guard) and the Shiites.
This morning, Mostafa Mohammad Najjar, Minister of Interior, also accused Israel. "The terrorist acts of the Zionists - he said - have a number of objectives, including to create divisions between Shiites and Sunnis." He also assured that the Iranian secret services "have things under control."
Yesterday Yadollah Javan, head of the Revolutionary Guards political bureau said that "one can not exclude the intervention of America, the Zionists and other Western countries after the explosion.
The anti-Western sentiment was strong during the funerals of the victims celebrated this morning in front of the targeted mosque.
For nearly 10 years at every attack by Jundallah, Tehran accuses the United States, Britain and Israel of being the real instigators.
The reference to plots by foreign powers is almost a cliché. Even last year’s “green Wave” demonstrations against the regime of the ayatollahs and Ahmadinejad's rigged election, have been attributed to Western powers.
Meanwhile yesterday UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon added his voice to that of the U.S. and Arab countries, condemning the bombing in Zahedan as a "senseless act of terrorism". The fact that it was made against a place of worship makes it "even more appalling," he added.