Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has accused the Arab states of the Gulf supported by the United States holding them responsible for the terrorist attack that took place during the military parade that killed at least 25 people, almost half of them members of the Revolutionary Guards of elite of the country.
The accusation is likely to increase tensions with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf allies, who together with the United States have worked to isolate the Islamic Republic.
"This crime is the continuation of the plots of the regional, puppet states of the United States, and their goal is to create insecurity in our dear country," Khamenei said in a statement posted on his website.
According to state television reports, the assault, which injured over 60 people, was concentrated at a spot where Iranian officials gathered to witness an annual event that marked the start of the Islamic Republic of 1980-88 with Iraq.
The attack was claimed by both an ethnic Iranian Arab opposition movement called Ahvaz National Resistance, who fights to obtain a separate state in the Khuzestan province rich in oil than by state militants, but without providing any proof.
Women and children were also killed among the people killed. According to Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, senior spokesman for the Iranian armed forces, the four assailants, all killed by the reaction of the security forces, had hidden their weapons several days earlier in an area near the parade route.
"All four terrorists were quickly neutralized by the security forces," Shekarchi told state television.
The Iranian Foreign Minister, Javad Zarif, with a post on Twitter, has promptly declared that Iran will respond "quickly and decisively" to the attack, stating that it was an attack by "recruited, trained terrorists. paid by a foreign government ".
Meanwhile, Russia has also announced that it is ready to strengthen bilateral cooperation with Iran to counter terrorism. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a message of condolences to the Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani for the attack expressed "deep condolences.
We expect all those involved in this crime to be adequately punished. What happened again reminds us that terrorism in all its forms must be combated without compromise. I would like to confirm our readiness to further strengthen our cooperation with Iranian partners to counter this evil, "Putin said in his message to Rouhani.