<%@LANGUAGE="VBSCRIPT" CODEPAGE="1252"%> WorldTribune.com: Mobile Ñ Iran blames 'U.S. action' for assassination of IRGC commanders in suicide bombing

Iran blames 'U.S. action' for assassination of IRGC commanders in suicide bombing

Tuesday, October 20, 2009   E-Mail this story   Free Headline Alerts

NICOSIA Ñ The senior command of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been rocked by a suicide bombing.

At least seven senior IRGC commanders have been killed two bombing in the southeastern Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchistan on Oct 18. Iran's official news agency, Irna, identified one of the casualties as IRGC Army deputy commander Gen. Noor Ali Shushtari, who had been heading toward a reconciliation meeting with Sunni leaders near the Iranian border with Pakistan.

"The intention of the terrorists was definitely to disrupt security in Sistan-Baluchistan province," Iranian parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani said. "We consider the recent terrorist attack to be the result of U.S. action. This is the sign of America's animosity against our country."

Shushtari was also reported to be a senior officer in IRGC's Quds Force. Quds was identified as the foreign operations and intelligence arm of IRGC.

"Behind this scene are the American and British intelligence apparatus, and there will have to be retaliatory measures to punish them," IRGC commander Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said.

In all, at least 49 people, most of them tribal leaders, were killed in Sistan-Baluchistan. Irna said dozens of others were injured in the blast, condemned by the United States.

"Gen. Shushtari, along with a number of other commanders, had gone there to attend a conference," Morteza Etasi, a witness, told Iran's Press TV. "But before going there, there were some tribes people who were busy making baskets and they went to talk to them. And that's when the attack happened. Gen. Shushtari got killed along with other senior commanders and tribes people."

Iran has been fighting an Al Qaida-aligned insurgency along the Pakistani border. Officials said the Sunni group Jund Allah, or Soldiers of God, was targeting IRGC targets with the help of Britain, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

Jund Allah, believed based in neighboring Pakistan, has been led by Abdul Malek Rigi. Jund has claimed responsibility for the twin bombings.

"Rigi's terrorist group has claimed responsibility for the attack," Iran's state television said.

Irna identified another casualty as Gen. Rajab Ali Mohammadzadeh, the IRGC commander of Sistan-Baluchistan. Mohammadzadeh as well as his colleagues were killed when a suicide bomber, a tribesman, approached an IRGC contingent as it was meeting Sunni tribal members in the southeastern city of Sarbaz.

This marked the second major attack by Jund Allah in 2009. In May, the Sunni group was said to have killed at least 25 people in the bombing of a Shi'ite mosque in Sistan-Baluchistan.

"There is no doubt that this violent and inhumane act was part of the strategy of foreigners and enemies of the regime and the revolution to destroy unity between Shi'ites and Sunnis and create divisions among the unified ranks of the great Iranian people," IRGC said.

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