Iran/US

Iran blames US for mosque attack

Article published on the 2009-05-29 Latest update 2009-05-29 10:44 TU

Iranians officials search inside the mosque after Thursday's bomb explosion in Zahedan, 1076 km south east of Tehran
(Photo: Reuters)

Iranian authorities on Friday accused the United States of being involved in Thursday's attack on a Shia mosque in south-east Iran. The attack left 23 dead and 125 injured after a bomb exploded during evening prayer at the Amir al-Momenin mosque in Zahedan.

Fars Jalal Sayah, Vice Governor of the Sistan-Balouchistan region, said three people had been arrested after the "terrorist incident" and that "according to information we've received, the suspects were recruited by America and its agents of arrogance".

No group has yet claimed responsibility for the bombing which took place ahead of the country's presidential elections on 12 June.

The presidential candidate Mir Hossein Moussavi also accused "foreign forces" of being responsible but did not give any further details, saying that the attack had been "influenced or backed by foreign forces".

Earlier this month Iran's Ali Khamenei accused the US of "training terrorists" over the Iranian border and distributing "money and weapons" in a bid to topple Iran's leaders.

These accusations were rejected by Washington.