Daesh claims responsibility for terrorist bombings in Kerman

Daesh has claimed responsibility for two explosions that massacred at least 84 people and wounded scores at a memorial for top anti-terror Commander Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman.

In a statement posted on its affiliate Telegram channels, the terrorist group said two members had detonated their explosive belts in the crowd which had gathered at a cemetery for the anniversary of the US assassination of Gen. Soleimani.

Earlier, an unnamed source told IRNA that the first explosion at the cemetery in Kerman, Gen. Soleimani's hometown, "was the result of a suicide bomber's action".

"The suicide bomber in the first incident was a man who was completely dismembered as a result of the explosion and the identification of the suicide bomber is under investigation," it said.

"The cause of the second blast was most likely the same," the source told IRNA.

The site of the explosions, the source said, was respectively 1.5 km and 2.7 km from the burial place of Gen. Soleimani, where it was not possible to pass through the inspection gates in the area.

The United Nations Security Council in a statement condemned Wednesday's "cowardly terrorist attack" in Kerman and sent its condolences to the victims' families and the Iranian government.

Iran observed a day of mourning Thursday for those martyred in the terrorist blasts. People gathered at dozen cities across the country, chanting: "Death to Israel" and "Death to America".

Meanwhile, Iranians prepared for mass protests after weekly prayers across the nation on Friday, when funerals will be held for the victims.

ME