Iran Accuses Pakistan, Western Nations Of Supporting Attackers

The Iranian government has accused Pakistan, Britain and the United States of supporting rebels it says carried out Sunday's suicide bombing that killed six commanders of the elite Revolutionary Guards and at least 36 other people. 

Iran's Revolutionary Guard chief, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, said Monday that British and U.S. intelligence officials trained the rebels in Pakistan. 

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has also said the attack was planned in Pakistan.

U.S. State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly condemned the bombing as an act of terrorism, and rejected claims of U.S. involvement as completely false.

The border region is home to an escalating Sunni insurgency and has seen frequent clashes between Iranian security forces, Sunni rebels and drug traffickers.

The bomber in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province blew himself up Sunday at a meeting of Revolutionary Guards and both Shi'ite and Sunni tribal leaders in a city  close to the border with Pakistan.

Iran's semiofficial Fars news agency quoted Mr. Ahmadinejad as saying that some security agents in Pakistan are cooperating with the main figures responsible for Sunday's attack.

Other Iranian media reports say a Sunni insurgent group, Jundallah, claimed responsibility for the bombing, but Jundallah has made no public statement.  Iranian news agencies also report the Foreign Ministry in Tehran says the attackers crossed into Iran from Pakistan.

Deputy commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's ground force, Gen. Noor Ali Shooshtari is among those killed in the attack, Sunday, 18 Oct. 2009The six senior officers killed in the attack include the Revolutionary Guards' deputy commander, General Noor Ali Shooshtari and the chief provincial commander, Rajab Ali Mohammad-Zadeh.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad vowed to quickly apprehend and punish those behind the violence.

The Revolutionary Guards also accused the West of the bombing, referring to the United States as a force of "global arrogance."

In the past, Iran has accused the United States of backing Jundallah; the U.S. has denied the allegation.


Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.