Iran condemns terrorist attack in Lahore

Iran's Foreign Ministry deplored the Monday terrorist attack in the Pakistani city of Lahore which claimed the lives of tens of innocent people.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi condemned the terrorist blast, and expressed his condolences to the Pakistani government and people, specially those who have lost their beloved ones in the attack.

"With such inhumane and barbaric acts, the terrorist groups have targeted the regional nations' will and determination to fight against terrorism and uproot it but we rest assured that incidents like what happened in Lahore won't help these groups to attain their ominous goals," he underlined.

Qassemi also stressed that Iran will always remain beside the Pakistani government and nation in the fight against terrorism.

An explosion near the Punjab provincial assembly in Lahore killed at least 13 people and wounded 83 others on Monday, a senior police official said.

Mushtaq Sukhera, the Police inspector general in Punjab Province, said five police officers were among the dead in an explosion that rocked a protest organized by Pakistan's chemists and pharmaceuticals manufacturers.

"It was a suicide attack. The bomber exploded himself when successful negotiations were underway between police officials and the protesters," Sukhera told reporters.

EA