The Islamic State jihadist group on Thursday (Jan 4) claimed responsibility for twin bombings that killed 84 people&nbsp;in Iran a day before.&nbsp;

In a statement on Telegram, the group said two of its members "activated their explosives vests" at a gathering near the grave&nbsp;in the southern city of Kerman of slain Revolutionary Guards general Qasem Soleimani.&nbsp;

The death toll earlier was reported to be 103, but Iranian authorities on Thursday said blasts killed 84 people, revising the toll.&nbsp;

Tehran's official news agency IRNA quoted Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi as saying that "according to forensic statistics, the number of martyrs from this incident has been announced as 84 so far".&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iraq-accuses-us-led-coalition-of-baghdad-strike-calls-it-blatant-aggression-676570">Iraq accuses US-led coalition of Baghdad strike, calls it 'blatant aggression'</a>&nbsp;

Jafar Miadfar, who is the head of&nbsp;Iran's emergency services, also confirmed the revised toll as he said that the earlier tally was due to the fact that some bodies had been dismembered and counted "several times".&nbsp;

The explosions took place on the anniversary of Soleimani's killing in a US drone strike in Iraq in 2020 as hundreds of people were gathered to mark the occasion.&nbsp;

Iran-based Tasnim news agency reported that the first blast happened at 15:04 pm (local time) when people were packed on a road leading to a cemetery where the tomb of Soleimani is located. The second blast occurred around 13 minutes later.&nbsp;

Soleimani was an Iranian military officer who served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He was the commander of the Quds Force, which is an IRGC division primarily responsible for extraterritorial and clandestine military operations, from 1998 until his death. He was killed in a US drone strike just outside Baghdad airport. &nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hezbollah-source-says-local-chief-among-four-killed-in-south-lebanon-676604">Hezbollah source says local chief among four killed in south Lebanon</a>&nbsp;

Watch:&nbsp;West Asia: Israel stares at wider conflict&nbsp;

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<h2>Tensions rise in West Asia&nbsp;</h2>

The Israel-Hamas war has already escalated tensions in West Asia, and the recent attacks in Lebanon and Iran have added fuel to the fire.&nbsp;

The two explosions in Iran have been labelled a "terrorist attack" by state media and regional authorities, which sparked fears of a widening conflict in the region. In the immediate implications, global markets were rattled and oil prices jumped more than three per cent.&nbsp;

The Iranian president's political deputy, Mohammad Jamshidi wrote on X: "Washington says USA and Israel had no role in terrorist attack in Kerman, Iran. Really? A fox smells its own lair first."&nbsp;

"Make no mistake. The responsibility for this crime lies with the US and Zionist regimes (Israel) and terrorism is just a tool," he added.&nbsp;

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed "evil and criminal enemies" of the country for the attack and vowed a "harsh response".&nbsp;

President Ebrahim Raisi condemned the "heinous" crime as the Islamic Republic of Iran declared Thursday a national day of mourning.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Islamic State jihadist group on Thursday (Jan 4) claimed responsibility for twin bombings that killed 84 people in Iran a day before. In a statement on Telegram, the group said two of its members "activated their explosives vests" at a gathering near the grave in the southern city of Kerman of slain Revolutionary Guards general Qasem Soleimani.

The Islamic State jihadist group on Thursday (Jan 4) claimed responsibility for twin bombings that killed 84 people in Iran a day before. In a statement on Telegram, the group said two of its members "activated their explosives vests" at a gathering near the grave in the southern city of Kerman of slain Revolutionary Guards general Qasem Soleimani. The death toll earlier was reported to be 103, but Iranian authorities on Thursday said blasts killed 84 people, revising the toll. Tehran's official news agency IRNA quoted Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi as saying that "according to forensic statistics, the number of martyrs from this incident has been announced as 84 so far". Also read: Iraq accuses US-led coalition of Baghdad strike, calls it 'blatant aggression' Jafar Miadfar, who is the head of Iran's emergency services, also confirmed the revised toll as he said that the earlier tally was due to the fact that some bodies had been dismembered and counted "several times". The explosions took place on the anniversary of Soleimani's killing in a US drone strike in Iraq in 2020 as hundreds of people were gathered to mark the occasion. Iran-based Tasnim news agency reported that the first blast happened at 15:04 pm (local time) when people were packed on a road leading to a cemetery where the tomb of Soleimani is located. The second blast occurred around 13 minutes later. Soleimani was an Iranian military officer who served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He was the commander of the Quds Force, which is an IRGC division primarily responsible for extraterritorial and clandestine military operations, from 1998 until his death. He was killed in a US drone strike just outside Baghdad airport. Also read: Hezbollah source says local chief among four killed in south Lebanon Watch: West Asia: Israel stares at wider conflict × Tensions rise in West Asia The Israel-Hamas war has already escalated tensions in West Asia, and the recent attacks in Lebanon and Iran have added fuel to the fire. The two explosions in Iran have been labelled a "terrorist attack" by state media and regional authorities, which sparked fears of a widening conflict in the region. In the immediate implications, global markets were rattled and oil prices jumped more than three per cent. The Iranian president's political deputy, Mohammad Jamshidi wrote on X: "Washington says USA and Israel had no role in terrorist attack in Kerman, Iran. Really? A fox smells its own lair first." "Make no mistake. The responsibility for this crime lies with the US and Zionist regimes (Israel) and terrorism is just a tool," he added. Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blamed "evil and criminal enemies" of the country for the attack and vowed a "harsh response". President Ebrahim Raisi condemned the "heinous" crime as the Islamic Republic of Iran declared Thursday a national day of mourning. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran twin blasts: Islamic State jihadist group claims responsibility for bombings

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed on its Telegram channel Friday that it was behind a blast at a sports club that killed four people in the Afghan capital the night before.

The Sunni Muslim extremist group said it had used a parcel bomb that "IS fighters placed in a room where Shiites gather".

The explosion occurred Thursday evening at a commercial centre in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood of Kabul, an enclave of the historically oppressed Shiite Hazara community, according to police.

Police were still investigating the cause of the explosion, Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said on Friday afternoon in a message to reporters.&nbsp;

He added that seven people were injured in the blast, revising the initial toll of two dead and nine injured.&nbsp;

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Taliban authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Islamic State (IS) claim.&nbsp;

The explosion ripped through a sports club several floors up in the commercial centre, blowing out all the sides of the space and shattering windows and causing damage throughout the block, AFP journalists saw on Friday.

An instructor at the club, which holds training in combat sports, told AFP the blast happened at the end of a busy boxing session that usually hosted some 30 people. &nbsp;

"The explosion was extraordinarily strong. The walls fell, the metal doors, glass and windows were broken", said 26-year-old Sultan Ali Amiri, who was not in the club when the blast occurred. "There has been a lot of damage, punching bags and almost everything is destroyed."

AFP journalists saw several heavy bags used for combat sport training on the floor of the club, others still hanging and pocked with fragments from the blast.

Afghanistan's Hazaras have regularly faced attacks in the majority Sunni Muslim country.

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghanistan-at-least-two-killed-nine-injured-after-blast-in-predominantly-shiite-kabul-neighbourhood-651747">&nbsp;Afghanistan: At least two killed, nine injured after blast in predominantly Shiite Kabul neighbourhood</a>

They have been persecuted for decades, targeted by the Taliban during their insurgency against the former US-backed government as well as by IS.

The Islamic State group, which considers Shiites heretics, has carried out several deadly attacks in the same area in recent years targeting schools, mosques and gyms.

Images shared on social media shortly after the explosion showed a fire blazing in the sports club and boxing mitts among shattered glass on the ground.

The number of bomb blasts and suicide attacks has reduced dramatically since the Taliban ended their insurgency after seizing power in August 2021, ousting the US-backed government.

However, a number of armed groups -- including the regional chapter of IS -- remain a threat. 
 
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The Islamic State jihadist group claimed on its Telegram channel Friday that it was behind a blast at a sports club that killed four people in the Afghan capital the night before.

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed on its Telegram channel Friday that it was behind a blast at a sports club that killed four people in the Afghan capital the night before. The Sunni Muslim extremist group said it had used a parcel bomb that "IS fighters placed in a room where Shiites gather". The explosion occurred Thursday evening at a commercial centre in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighbourhood of Kabul, an enclave of the historically oppressed Shiite Hazara community, according to police. Police were still investigating the cause of the explosion, Kabul police spokesman Khalid Zadran said on Friday afternoon in a message to reporters. He added that seven people were injured in the blast, revising the initial toll of two dead and nine injured. ALSO READ | About 200 Afghan refugees to relocate from Pakistan to UK on charter flights on Oct 26 Taliban authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the Islamic State (IS) claim. The explosion ripped through a sports club several floors up in the commercial centre, blowing out all the sides of the space and shattering windows and causing damage throughout the block, AFP journalists saw on Friday. An instructor at the club, which holds training in combat sports, told AFP the blast happened at the end of a busy boxing session that usually hosted some 30 people. "The explosion was extraordinarily strong. The walls fell, the metal doors, glass and windows were broken", said 26-year-old Sultan Ali Amiri, who was not in the club when the blast occurred. "There has been a lot of damage, punching bags and almost everything is destroyed." AFP journalists saw several heavy bags used for combat sport training on the floor of the club, others still hanging and pocked with fragments from the blast. Afghanistan's Hazaras have regularly faced attacks in the majority Sunni Muslim country. ALSO READ | Afghanistan: At least two killed, nine injured after blast in predominantly Shiite Kabul neighbourhood They have been persecuted for decades, targeted by the Taliban during their insurgency against the former US-backed government as well as by IS. The Islamic State group, which considers Shiites heretics, has carried out several deadly attacks in the same area in recent years targeting schools, mosques and gyms. Images shared on social media shortly after the explosion showed a fire blazing in the sports club and boxing mitts among shattered glass on the ground. The number of bomb blasts and suicide attacks has reduced dramatically since the Taliban ended their insurgency after seizing power in August 2021, ousting the US-backed government. However, a number of armed groups -- including the regional chapter of IS -- remain a threat. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Afghanistan: Islamic State group claims responsibility for blast that killed two in Kabul

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A BJP leader and five policemen were killed on Tuesday when the Naxals attacked a convoy in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada.

The incident occurred at Shyamgiri hills when the BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi's convoy was heading towards Kuwakonda from Bacheli area.

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Speaking to reporters outside his Chennai residence, Rajinikanth termed the mention of linking rivers in the manifesto as a "welcome move".

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Dantewada: BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi, 5 policemen killed in Naxal attack A BJP leader and five policemen were killed on Tuesday when the Naxals attacked a convoy in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada.

Dantewada: BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi, 5 policemen killed in Naxal attack A BJP leader and five policemen were killed on Tuesday when the Naxals attacked a convoy in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada. The incident occurred at Shyamgiri hills when the BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi's convoy was heading towards Kuwakonda from Bacheli area. BJP-led alliance to win thin majority in Lok Sabha elections 2019, poll shows ahead of vote Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling alliance will win a thin majority in a general election that starts on April 11, an average of four opinion polls showed, with a focus on national security appearing to trump concerns over other issues. German Islamic State woman accused of letting Yazidi 'slave' girl die of thirst A German woman who joined the Islamic State jihadist group went on trial Tuesday accused of the war crime of letting a five-year-old Yazidi "slave" girl die of thirst in the sun. If NDA wins they should first implement river-linking project: Rajinikanth Superstar Rajinikanth on Tuesday clarified his stance over Bharatiya Janata Party's election manifesto that was released yesterday. Speaking to reporters outside his Chennai residence, Rajinikanth termed the mention of linking rivers in the manifesto as a "welcome move". Mehbooba Mufti and Gautam Gambhir get into a Twitter fight over Article 370 The issue of Article 370 has triggered a war of words between the J&K's former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and former cricketer and BJP leader Gautam Gambhir.

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