Iran's Health Minister, Bahram Einollahi, has revised the reported death toll resulting from the twin explosions near the burial site of General Qassem Soleimani from 103 down to 95. In a live interview with the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN) on Wednesday, the minister clarified that the initial higher count was due to inadvertent duplication of some victims' names, as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
This adjustment was further corroborated by Mohammad Saberi, the head of Kerman's emergency organization, as relayed by the Iranian Students' News Agency, confirming the lower casualty count.
The tragic blasts, occurring approximately 20 minutes apart around 15:00 local time, disrupted a gathering at the cemetery in Kerman to commemorate the fourth anniversary of Soleimani's death in a US drone strike. The first explosion struck roughly 700 meters from Soleimani's tomb, followed by another blast about a kilometer away, according to Iran's official news agency IRNA.
Rahman Jalali, the Deputy Governor of Kerman province, attributed these explosions to "terrorists," as per IRNA's report.
The investigation into the cause of the blasts remains ongoing, with rescue teams actively present at the scene. Reports indicate that most injuries stemmed from overcrowding and ensuing panic.
In response to this tragedy, the Iranian government has announced Thursday as a national day of mourning to honor the lives lost.
The assassination of Soleimani, a prominent Iranian military figure, occurred on January 3, 2020, through a drone strike authorized by former US President Donald Trump near Baghdad's international airport. Soleimani was laid to rest in his hometown of Kerman following a funeral that drew millions of mourners across Iran. Iran vehemently condemned the assassination, labeling it as "state terrorism," and vowed to retaliate.
(With Agency Inputs)
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