Guards commander-in-chief Mohammad Ali Jafari said Iranian security officials had presented documents indicating "direct ties" from Jundollah to U.S., British and, "unfortunately", Pakistani intelligence organisations, the ISNA news agency said.
"Behind this scene are the American and British intelligence apparatus, and there will have to be retaliatory measures to punish them," Jafari was quoted as saying.
Jundollah, which has been blamed for many attacks since 2005 in the desert province bordering Pakistan, says it is fighting to end discrimination against Sunni Muslims by Iran's dominant Shi'ites. Its leader is Abdolmalek Rigi.
Jafari said Rigi and his plans were "undoubtedly under the umbrella and the protection" of U.S., British and Pakistani organisations, though he limited the threat of retaliation to the United States and Britain.
اسامی 34 شهید حادثه تروریستی
مهر: پزشکی قانونی سیستان و بلوچستان اسامی 34 تن از شهدای حادثه تروریستی روز یکشنبه را منتشر و یک شهید را مجهول الهویه اعلام کرد.
اسامی اعلام شده به شرح زیر است:
1- محمد فدایی
2- فرشاد شفیع‌پور
3- مصطفی آسکانی
4- محمدعارف براه
5- هادی محمدسلیمانی
6- هوشنگ کریمی
7- حسین مرادی
8- علی علویان
9- خسرو شمس‌الدینی
10- اصلم موحد
11- شاهین بیر
12- محمد اصلم بیر
13- شهرام خالقی
14- روح‌الله نوزاد
15- گودرزی
16- پنجشنبه بیر
17- ولی‌فتح مرادی
18- محمد میر
19- حمیدرضا ناصری
20- شهکل آسکانی
21- همزه شه‌بخش
22- حسین اسدی
23- مرادبخش چرخ
24- عمران زرنما
25- علی نیک‌پور
26- کمال جنگک
27- عبدالله ترکی
28- رحمت‌الله ترکی
29- شیرمحمد ترکی
30- نورعلی شوشتری
31- علی عربی
32- رجبعلی محمدزاده
33- خدابخش بیر
34- اصلم هود
By Fredrik Dahl
TEHRAN (Reuters) - A suicide bomber killed around 20 people on Sunday, including six senior Revolutionary Guards commanders, in an attack in Iran's turbulent southeast blamed on foreign-backed elements, Iranian media reported.
State media said a local rebel group was suspected of staging the attack, the worst on the elite Revolutionary Guards in recent years, which injured another 40 people at a meeting of tribal chiefs.
But the Guards themselves accused "foreign elements" linked to the United States of involvement and state television also pointed the finger at Britain, another traditional foe of Iran.
The bombing and allegations of foreign involvement are likely to raise tension between Tehran and the West, a day before nuclear talks in Vienna including Iranian, U.S., French and Russian officials.
State television suggested that a Sunni rebel group called Jundollah (God's soldiers) -- linked by some analysts to the Taliban in neighboring Pakistan -- was the likely suspect for the attack.
"Attacker detonated explosives strapped to his body during gathering of tribal heads," state Press TV said in a headline, adding that civilians and tribal leaders were also among the victims.
The Revolutionary Guards blamed "foreign elements" linked to the United States, which Tehran accuses the United States of backing Jundollah to create instability in the country, a charge that Washington denies.
State broadcaster IRIB said the attack occurred in the morning at the gates of a conference hall in the city of Sarbaz in Sistan-Baluchestan. The province is the scene of frequent clashes between security forces, Sunni rebels and drug traffickers.
Two high-ranking commanders among the dead were the deputy head of the Guards' ground forces, General Nourali Shoushtari, and the Guards' commander in Sistan-Baluchestan province, General Mohammadzadeh, news agencies reported. Shoushtari was also a senior official of the Guard's elite Qods force.
Citing authorities and experts, a presenter of English-language Press TV said "the finger of accusation is directly pointed at the Jundollah group," referring to ethnic Baluch Sunni insurgents who have been blamed for previous attacks in the region.
FOREIGN ELEMENTS
The Revolutionary Guards accused the United States of involvement. "Surely foreign elements, particularly those linked to the global arrogance, were involved in this attack," a Guards statement quoted by television said. Iran often uses the term "global arrogance" to refer to the United States, its old foe.
There was no immediate comment on the attack by Washington.
The Revolutionary Guards is an elite force seen as fiercely loyal to the values of the 1979 Islamic revolution. It handles security in sensitive border areas.
State TV also singled out Britain. "Some informed sources said the British government was directly involved in the terrorist attack ... by organizing, supplying equipment and employing professional terrorists," it said.
The Foreign Office did not directly comment on the accusation but said in a statement that Britain "condemns the terrorist attack in the province of Sistan and Baluchestan in Iran and the sad loss of life which it caused.
"Terrorism is abhorrent wherever it occurs" it said, expressing sympathy for the victims and their families.
Jundollah, which claimed responsibility for a bomb attack on a Shi'ite mosque in May that killed 25 people, says it is fighting for the rights of Iran's minority Sunnis.
Some analysts believe that Jundollah has evolved through shifting alliances with various parties, including the Taliban and Pakistan's ISI intelligence service, who saw the group as a tool against Iran.
Predominantly Shi'ite Muslim Iran has also linked Jundollah to the Sunni Islamist al Qaeda network. Most people in Sistan-Baluchestan are Sunni Muslims and ethnic Baluchis. Iran rejects allegations by Western rights groups that it discriminates against ethnic and religious minorities.
(Reporting by Fredrik Dahl and Reza Derakhshi; additional reporting by Parisa Hafezi; editing by David Stamp)
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* Six Revolutionary Guards commanders killed
* Total 50 die, many wounded at meeting of tribal chiefs
* Bombing underlines regional instability
* State TV says Sunni rebel group claims responsibility
* Iran's armed forces accuse US, Britain of involvement
(Adds Ahmadinejad comment on Pakistan, summoning of diplomat, updates toll)
By Fredrik Dahl and Reza Derakhshi
TEHRAN, Oct 18 (Reuters) - A suicide bomber killed six senior Revolutionary Guards commanders, including two of its top officers, and 29 other people on Sunday in one of the boldest attacks against Iran's most powerful military institution.
The attack highlighted deepening instability in a southeastern region of mainly Shi'ite Muslim Iran bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan. Many minority Sunnis live in the impoverished area, which has seen an upsurge in bombings and other violence.
State media said a local rebel Sunni group called Jundollah (God's soldiers) claimed responsibility for the attack, the deadliest on the elite Guards in recent years, which also wounded about 30 people ahead of a meeting with tribal chiefs.
The talks were part of efforts to foster Shi'ite-Sunni unity and the Guards said the attack was aimed at fomenting sectarian strife in Sistan-Baluchestan province, media said. About 10 senior tribal figures were among the dead.
Iranian officials also accused the United States and Britain of involvement, a charge rejected by Washington. Tehran says the United States backs Jundollah to stir trouble in the border area and has also linked the group to Sunni Islamist al Qaeda.
The armed forces' headquarters issued a statement warning of "revenge", the semi-official Fars News Agency reported. [ID:nDAH852861]
The southeastern province is the scene of frequent clashes between security forces, ethnic Baluch Sunni insurgents and heavily-armed drug traffickers.
Jundollah, which accuses Iran's Shi'ite-led government of discrimination against Sunnis in the remote desert region, has been blamed for many deadly incidents over the last few years.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said those behind the attack would be "seriously dealt with" and called on Pakistan to help catch and hand them over. Iran has in the past said Jundollah members were operating from its neighbour.
"We were informed that some security agents in Pakistan are cooperating with the main elements of this terrorist incident," Fars News Agency quoted him as saying.
"We ask the Pakistani government not to delay any longer in the apprehension of the main elements in this terrorist attack."
The Foreign Ministry summoned a senior Pakistani diplomat in Tehran and said there was evidence the perpetrators came to Iran from Pakistan. "The Pakistani official assured Tehran his country would take all measures to secure its border with Iran," state television said.
"COMPLETELY FALSE"
The deputy head of the Guards' ground forces, General Nourali Shoushtari, and its commander in Sistan-Baluchestan province, General Rajabali Mohammadzadeh, were among the dead. Shoushtari was also a senior official of the Guards' elite Qods force. [ID:nLI602338]
"Rigi's terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack," said state television, referring to Abdolmalek Rigi, leader of Jundollah which is linked by some analysts to the Taliban in Pakistan. [ID:nLI593747]
Television showed footage of three bodies covered with blood-stained clothing and of wounded people being taken to hospital. Glass shards and other debris were scattered at the scene of the attack.
The United States condemned the bombing.
"We condemn this act of terrorism and mourn the loss of innocent lives. Reports of alleged U.S. involvement are completely false," State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said.
Most people in Sistan-Baluchestan are Sunni Muslims and ethnic Baluchis. Iran rejects charges by Western rights groups that it discriminates against ethnic and religious minorities.
The Revolutionary Guards is an elite force seen as fiercely loyal to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Its power and resources have increased in recent years. It handles security in border areas. [ID:nLI606502]
The bombing and allegations of foreign involvement risk overshadowing talks between Iranian and Western officials in Vienna on Monday intended to help resolve a standoff with the West over Iran's nuclear ambitions.
"It could damage that dialogue," defence analyst Paul Beaver said. He said a suicide bombing could indicate links to al Qaeda but he dismissed allegations of a U.S. or British role: "I think it is highly unlikely."
MOSQUE BOMBING
The attack is likely to harden the resolve of the clerical and military establishment in confronting the opposition to a disputed election in June which saw Ahmadinejad's re-election.
Opposition leader Mirhossein Mousavi said he would press ahead with efforts to reform the Islamic Republic despite a post-poll crackdown on protests, his website said on Sunday. [ID:nHAF831812]
The election plunged Iran into its deepest internal crisis since the 1979 Islamic revolution. The opposition says more than 70 people were killed as Revolutionary Guards and Islamic militia put down the demonstrations that erupted after the vote.
Citing a witness, state television said Sunday's attack occurred when senior Revolutionary Guards officers attending a conference in the southeastern city of Sarbaz went to talk to a group of tribespeople making baskets.
English-language Press TV said the suicide bomber was a tribesman who "detonated his explosives strapped to his body".
Among those killed were also the Guards' commanders in the cities of Sarbaz and Iranshahr.
Jundollah, which claimed responsibility for the bombing of a Shi'ite mosque in May that killed 25 people in the same region, says it is fighting for the rights of minority Sunnis in Iran.
Some analysts believe Jundollah has evolved through shifting alliances with parties including the Taliban and Pakistan's ISI intelligence service, who saw the group as a tool against Iran.
In London, Saman Zarifi, Amnesty International Asia-Pacific Director, told Reuters: "We are very concerned that the Iranians will respond by executing Baluchi detainees. That has been their response to previous such incidents, simply taking people out of prison and killing them."
Iran executed 13 alleged Jundollah members in July. (Additional reporting by Parisa Hafezi in Tehran, Peter Griffiths in London and Arshad Mohammed in Washington; Writing by Samia Nakhoul; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
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Iran to punish "terrorist aggressors": Khamenei
2009-10-20 08:00:03 [ Big Normal Small ] Comment
TEHRAN, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah AliKhamenei said in a message on Monday Iran will punish the terrorist aggressors who targeted people and their security, the state IRIB TV reported.
"The vicious and the wicked (terrorists) fed by the arrogant (implying certain western countries) must be sure that the powerful Islamic system will not slacken in defending the security of the oppressed and faithful local people (of Sistan-Baluchestan) and will punish the aggressors threatening the people's life, wealth and security," Khamenei was quoted as saying.
Iran to punish "terrorist aggressors": Khamenei
Iranians take part in the funeral procession of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards and local tribesmen in Iran's southeastern city of Zahedan on Oct. 19, 2009. A suicide bomber killed seven commanders of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards and up to 42 other people on Oct. 18 in an attack at Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province near Iran's border with Pakistan.(Xinhua/ISNA)
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"The crime of the terrorists in Baluchestan unmasked the satanic nature of the enemies of security and unity (in the country) which are supported by certain arrogant states," he said.
"The enemies are better to know that ... these wild attitudes will not harm the unity of Iran's religious and ethnic diversity," added Khamenei.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Chief Commander Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said Monday that the United States, Britain and Pakistan are aiding the Jundallah terrorist rebels, the claim which has been rejected by those countries.
Nearly 45 people were killed, including a number of the IRGC commanders, and dozens of others wounded.
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