After the announcement to neutralize a plan to bomb the Russian consulate in Rasht city (a northern city in Iran), Iran’s Intelligence Minister held America accountable behind acts of terrorism in Iran.
According to FARS news agency, in the congregation of the Director of Public Persecutions, on Wednesday May 14th, Iran’s Intelligence Minister claimed that, “ The American terrorism network was planning the bombing of the Russian consulate in order to jeopardize Iran’s affairs with its neighboring countries.” He did not give any further details on the matter.
Mr. Ejehi also referred to the bombing of a religious center in Shiraz (a southwestern city in Iran) on April 14th. Ejehi said, “The people responsible for the bombing were receiving support, training, information and facilities for their escape from the United States. Also, their financial support and armaments for sabotage were provided by American citizens.” He said, “(this group) had instructed the bombing of Shiraz in order to destroy the science center, various departments , as well as religious centers and mosques. Their intention was to incite religious conflicts among Iranian citizens. Networks that were receiving American support were involved in kidnapping Imams, attacking mosques and several other acts of terrorism.”
The deadly explosion in Shiraz killed 14 people and injured 200 others. Iran announced that its first formal assumption as to the cause of the bombing was linked to the remains of artillery left behind from the Iran-Iraq War.
Later on May 7th , the Interior Minister, Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi, announced that the explosion was a terrorist act. He believed that a Western supported monarchist wing was behind the blast.
Ahmadinejad’s Accusations
Earlier, Mr. Ahmadinejad, Iran’s President, during a news conference on May 13th claimed that, “The terrorist confessed that they are affiliated with Zionist regime (Israel), the United States and the UK.” He also said, “The atrocity in Shiraz occurred a short time after the Zionist regime (Israel), the United States and the UK announced that they were planning to assassinate Iranian officials.” Ahmadinejad did not mention anything regarding the assassination arrangements.
On May 4th, FARS agency had published an article with the title “Bush’s Secret Order of Terrorism Action Against Iranian Officials.” This news was based on the translation of an English magazine Counter Punch that “has a radical and politically incorrect approach towards issues.” Counter Punch’s publications are politically comedic articles about Republicans rather than serious articles. The Minister of Intelligence of Iran also accused America of having a hand in “all terrorist actions” and claimed that “America was behind the Tasuki incident and now they are involved with the killing of our innocent people.” Mr Ejehi pointed out the death of 22 people, which occurred in December 2005 during the transportation in one of Zahedans’s suburbs , Tasuki. Jundallah, led by Abdul Malik Rigi took responsibility for the attack and claimed that they were seeking for the rights of Balochi Sunni people and the freedom of prisoners. But Iran, however, held the United States responsible for this atrocity and accused the United States of supporting Jundallah. The United States denied the accusation.
Mr Ejehi further added, “The appropriate actions taken by the Iranian police force is responsible for the neutralization of another bomb in Tehran.” The Minister of Intelligence of Iran had nothing more to add on the subject.
Iran has also accused the United States of being responsible for the bombings in Ahvaz and Zahedan in 2003 and 2004. In return, America is accusing Iran of having had a hand in supporting terrorist groups in Iraq since the beginning of the Iraqi invasion. The American government says that Iran is responsible for fueling the instability of southern Iraq, arming and training Shiite guerrillas in south Iraq. Iran has denied all of the accusations and claims that Iran would benefit from Iraq’s stability.
Lovely article. I actually lived in Iran for 4 years.Thanks