In today’s bulletin: In the wake of the worst attacks in Iran since 1979, officials blamed Israel and the United States, until ISIS held responsible. Here’s what it means
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At least 84 people were killed and many more injured in a double bomb attack in the city of Kerman in south-eastern Iran on Wednesday. Iranian officials said bombs were placed on a road leading to the cemetery where thousands were gathered to mark the anniversary of the assassination of Qassem Suleimani, who was the head of Iran’s al-Quds force. The attack, which is the deadliest Iran has seen since the revolution in 1979, has stoked tensions in an increasingly volatile region.
Though accusations were initially levelled at the US and Israel by Iranian officials, causing fear that the war in Gaza would become a regional conflict, Islamic State (IS) claimed responsibility last night in a statement posted on its Telegram channels. Details in the announcement, which said that two IS members had detonated their explosive belts in the crowd, differed from the statements put out by the Iranian government, which claimed the bombs had been placed in bags and detonated remotely.
This news may simply come as a relief to Tehran, as it removes the tension needed to respond militarily to Israel. But as the war between the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and Hamas continues to rage in Gaza, the scenario in the wider region remains incredibly tense.
To understand the fallout, for today’s newsletter I spoke with Mehran Kamrava, a professor of government at Georgetown University in Qatar and an expert on Iran, the Persian Gulf, and the politics of the Middle East. That’s right after the headlines.