Explosions at Golzar Cemetery in Kerman, Iran
Two blasts shook Golzar cemetery in Kerman, where General Qassem Soleimani of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is buried. Initial reports came from Iran’s IRNA agency, followed by multiple official statements.
Official figures indicated a toll in the hundreds, with 103 dead and 188 injured, including some in serious condition. Reports from Fars agency added that four police officers were killed, and press TV noted that three Iranian Red Crescent workers were among the deceased. All individuals at the cemetery were evacuated, and the site was subsequently closed as victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment.
International reactions surfaced quickly. Russian President Vladimir Putin conveyed condolences to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi, describing the killing of civilians as shocking and cruel. He called for a firm stand against terrorism in a Telegram message.
Putin’s note emphasized the need to condemn all forms of terrorism and to maintain a steadfast commitment to countering such violence.
What is known about the explosions
Iran’s Interior Minister Ahmed Vahidi stated that the first explosion occurred around 15:00 local time (15:30 Moscow time). Onlookers and mourners nearby rushed to aid the wounded. Kerman’s mayor, Said Shaarbaf, confirmed a second explosion occurred ten minutes later, not far from the first site.
The blasts took place roughly 300 meters apart. The first blast occurred about 700 meters from Soleimani’s grave, with the second about a kilometer away. Minister Vahidi noted that many people were injured in the second explosion.
Rahman Celali, deputy governor of Kerman, said authorities were treating the incident as a terrorist attack. Tasnim Agency cited sources saying bombs were placed in two bags at the cemetery entrance and exploded remotely. IRNA echoed that description, while also indicating two separate packages were involved. Both agencies denied reports that a suicide bomber was responsible.
Zabihollah Azami-Sardui, a member of parliament representing Jiroft and Kerman province, stated that four explosions had occurred. Interior Minister Vahidi urged the public to disregard rumors while investigators worked to determine the causes. Far news agency reported similar statements from the minister and noted that the ministry had information about a terrorist attack that still required confirmation.
The Foreign Ministry characterized the Golzar cemetery explosions as a grave attack against the public and those honoring the national hero. Vahidi promised a definitive response, and authorities warned that security forces and the military would react forcefully in the near term.
Context and remembrance
On January 3, a funeral ceremony was held at Golzar cemetery in memory of General Soleimani, who led the IRGC’s elite Quds Force. Soleimani was killed in a U.S. air strike near Baghdad airport on January 3, 2020. The Pentagon stated that the order to kill him originated from then-U.S. President Donald Trump following an attack on a U.S. base in Kirkuk in late December 2019, an event that resulted in American casualties. This historical backdrop adds to the sensitivity surrounding the latest incident as Iran conducts its ongoing inquiries and security assessments.