Iranian military blames Saudis after 12 killed in Tehran terrorist attack

[muriel_volestrangler]

Last edited Wed Jun 7, 2017, 03:47 PM - Edit history (2)

Source: The Guardian

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have blamed Saudi Arabia for the first terrorist attack claimed by Islamic State in their country, setting the stage for spiralling tensions between the two rivals at a critical moment in the region.

At least 12 people were killed and dozens more injured in Tehran on Wednesday when gunmen and suicide bombers attacked the Iranian parliament and the mausoleum of the revolutionary founder of the Islamic Republic.

Analysis Consequences of attacks in Tehran will be felt around the world
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Isis claimed responsibility for the attacks, publishing a brief video that purported to show the assailants inside the parliament.

The hardline Revolutionary Guards blamed Riyadh for the attack, in a move that could further raise the stakes in a regional tussle that has already led to major diplomatic upheaval among the Gulf monarchies in recent days and the isolation of Qatar over, in part, its perceived closeness to Iran.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/07/shootings-iranian-parliament-khomeini-shrine

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Initial report at link:

"The Iranian parliament and the shrine of Irans revolutionary founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, have been targeted in simultaneous attacks in Tehran, state media has reported.

One guard was killed in the parliament shooting, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported, while the Fars agency said several people were injured in the shrine attack.

An MP told state broadcaster Irib that there were three gunmen inside the parliamentary complex in central Tehran, armed with rifles and a pistol. The shrine situated about 12 miles from the parliament building was attacked at the same time by four terrorists including a suicide bomber, Irib said."

Reuters update: Attackers raid Iran parliament and mausoleum, up to seven dead - media

"Attackers raided Irans parliament and opened fire at the Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini a few kilometres south of the capital on Wednesday morning, in near simultaneous assaults that killed up to seven people, media reported.

Tasmin news agency said there were unconfirmed reports that the attackers had taken four hostages inside the parliament building.

Three assailants, one with a pistol and two with AK-47 assault rifles, carried out the attack in central Tehran, lawmaker Elias Hazrati told state television.

Another lawmaker said one of the assailants was surrounded by security forces and all the doors to the building had been closed, ISNA news agency reported. The attackers killed seven people and wounded several others, Tasmin said."

http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-iran-security-idUKKBN18Y0HP

[still_one]

1. I wouldn't be surprised if the Sauds were behind this

[icymist]

2. Der Spiegel is running contentious updates

(Translated from German)
The mausoleum is located in the south of the Iranian capital, the parliament is about 20 kilometers away in the center of Tehran. According to Iranian newspapers, the attacks took place simultaneously. The terrorist organization "Islamic State" has claimed the attacks for itself.

Several Iranian observers suspect that the attacks are related to the current tensions with Saudi Arabia. Some assume that this, if this should be confirmed, could be a cause of war.

The attack comes in both internal and external political turbulent times: after the presidential election in May, during which reigning President Hassan Rohani was re-elected, there is currently an exchange of about half of all ministers.

Rohani, who stayed behind his expectations in his first term of office and could hardly carry out any reforms, wants to bring younger, more reform-minded people into his new cabinet. Foreign policy is mainly the issue with Saudi Arabia's agenda.

Saudi Arabia, together with other Arab countries, has succeeded in isolating the Emirate of Qatar , which has relatively good relations with Iran.

http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/iran-schiesserei-im-parlament-ein-sicherheitsmann-verletzt-a-1150961.html

[Rustyeye77]

3. Terrible.

Fundies.

[BumRushDaShow]

4. NYT says ISIS is taking responsibility

First time they supposedly operated within Iran.

[*** ISIS Claims Dual Attacks in Iran

By SEWELL CHAN JUNE 7, 2017

LONDON — Several people were injured and at least one person died on Wednesday morning in two attacks in Iran, one in the Parliament building and one on the mausoleum of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

The Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks, which are believed to be the terrorist group’s first major assaults within Iran’s borders. The Islamic State is run by Sunni Muslim militants, and Iran is the largest Shiite Muslim country in the world. The assaults immediately raised concerns that a broader sectarian conflict could worsen.

The attack on the Parliament began in late morning, when four gunmen carrying two Kalashnikov rifles and one Colt firearm stormed the building, according to a lawmaker, Qolam-Ali Jafarzadeh Imenabadi, who spoke to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency. One guard was killed and at least two others were wounded, the lawmaker reported. The door to the main chamber of the Parliament was sealed, and lawmakers inside were told not to leave, the authorities said.

At 12:12 p.m., the situation was declared under control; one assailant had been arrested, but it was not clear what had happened to the other men.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/07/world/middleeast/iran-parliament-attack-khomeini-mausoleum.html ***]

[nitpicker]

5. BBC update- 12 dead

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-40184641

[CountAllVotes]

6. Sickening

May the victims RIP!

& recommend.

[Eugene]

7. At least 12 killed in militant attack in Iran, Guards blame Saudi Arabia

Source: Reuters

WORLD NEWS | Wed Jun 7, 2017 | 3:27pm EDT

At least 12 killed in militant attack in Iran, Guards blame Saudi Arabia

By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin | LONDON

Suicide bombers and gunmen attacked the Iranian parliament and the Mausoleum of Ayatollah Khomeini in Tehran on Wednesday, killing at least 12 people in a twin assault which Iran's Revolutionary Guards blamed on regional rival Saudi Arabia.

Islamic State claimed responsibility and released a video purporting to show gunmen inside the parliament building. It also threatened more attacks against Iran's majority Shi'ite population, seen by the hardline Sunni militants as "heretics".

Saudi Arabia denied any involvement, but the assault further fuels boiling tensions between Riyadh and Tehran as they vie for control of the Gulf and influence in the wider Islamic world. It comes days after Riyadh and other Sunni Muslim powers cut ties with Qatar, accusing it of backing Tehran and militant groups.

They were the first attacks claimed by Islamic State inside the tightly controlled Shi'ite Muslim country, one of the powers leading the fight against IS forces in nearby Iraq and Syria.

Iranian police said they had arrested five suspects over the attacks and the country's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, struck a defiant tone.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-security-idUSKBN18Y0HV?il=0

[karynnj]

9. Thanks to Donkees - Bernie Sanders asks that the Senate delay the vote on Iran sanctions

No matter what you think of Iran, voting additional sanctions today is despicable. https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017442733

[Rustyeye77]

8. Assailants/ Militants/ Extremists/ Fighters

anything but the *T* word.

[Eugene]

10. Iran attacks: Trump reaction to Isis killings 'repugnant', says foreign minister

Source: Agence France-Presse

Iran attacks: Trump reaction to Isis killings 'repugnant', says foreign minister

Mohammad Javad Zarif hits back at the US president’s comments
on the suicide bombing which has been claimed by Islamic State

Agence France-Presse
Thursday 8 June 2017 06.53 BST

Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Thursday that US President Donald Trump’s reaction to the deadly Islamic State group attacks in Tehran was “repugnant”.

“Repugnant WH (White House) statement... as Iranians counter terror backed by US clients,” Zarif tweeted.

He was responding to Trump’s comment that “states that sponsor terrorism risk falling victim to the evil they promote”.

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Trump has long accused Iran of backing terrorism and has threatened to tear up a 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and major powers.

Even as Washington expressed its condolences on Wednesday, the US Senate advanced legislation that would impose new sanctions on Iran, partly for what the bill described as the Iranian regime’s “support for acts of international terrorism”.

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Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/08/trump-reaction-to-isis-attacks-in-iran-repugnant-says-foreign-minister