Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attack in Iran’s Kerman that claimed the lives of at least 84 people and injured over 200, as two blasts ripped through a crowd commemorating the death anniversary of senior Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Suleimani.
The incident unfolded four years after Suleimani died in a US drone strike in Baghdad. Suleimani, an enemy of IS, had significantly hindered the group's operations in Iraq and Syria.
The attack targeted a crowd gathered for the annual pilgrimage, a well-advertised event that experts believe IS saw as an opportunity with security forces potentially distracted by other regional events.
Iran responded by bolstering security along its borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan, suspecting the involvement of an IS affiliate. Iran's interior minister, Ahmad Vahidi, announced the prioritization of blocking key points on the border, and discussions with the Taliban to limit border traffic are anticipated.
The UN Security Council condemned the attack, labelling it a "cowardly terrorist act," and extended condolences to the victims' families and the Iranian government. Meanwhile, the Revolutionary Guards vowed a harsh response, denouncing the attack as a "blind and spiteful act" aimed at instigating insecurity.
Tensions in the region have escalated in recent days due to the conflict in Gaza and other incidents, including US helicopters opening fire on Iran-backed Houthi rebels, an Israeli drone strike in Beirut, and a US airstrike in Baghdad targeting an Iran-backed militia.
Early Iranian reactions pointed fingers at the US and Israel, but both nations denied involvement.
The attack bore the hallmarks of previous IS operations, including a deadly attack on a Shia shrine in Iran in 2022. Tehran often accuses its arch-enemies, the US and Israel, of supporting militant groups that target Iran.
As the Iranian government faces the aftermath of the Kerman attack, it is expected to leverage a wave of sympathy in the Islamic world to rally against what it perceives as US destabilizing interventions in the Middle East.
With parliamentary elections approaching in the spring, the government's handling of security is likely to become a significant domestic political issue, especially considering widespread alienation from the regime.
Former Iranian president Hassan Rouhani, a reformer, hinted at the need to strengthen security by acquiring legitimate freedoms, guaranteeing fundamental rights, and engaging sympathetic forces with a national perspective.
On the contrary, Mahdi Mohammadi, an aide to the speaker of parliament, called for a fundamental shift to deter Israel and criticized Rouhani for seeking Israel's approval.