The minister’s message reads:

“The occurrence of a bitter and sorrowful terrorist attack and the martyrdom of a number of dear fellow countrymen by beastly terrorists in a procession to commemorate the anniversary of the ascension of ‘Commander of Hearts’ Haj Qassem Soleimani caused great pain and grief.

“This cowardly attack on innocent civilians moving toward Kerman Martyrs Cemetery once again exposed the baseness and wickedness of the enemies of the Iranian nation more clearly than before.

“After their plot and act failed to destabilize Islamic Iran and brought disgrace upon them, the mercenaries and puppets of the usurper Zionist regime made every effort to hold grudges against patient and resilient people of Iran. The hired terrorists and their murderous masters, who had been given crushing responses by indefatigable people of Iran and Haj Qassem Soleimani, as this noble nation’s symbol of resistance and struggle, were even afraid of his martyrdom anniversary ceremony and turned it into a scene of carnage.

“Without doubt, sponsors and perpetrators of this crime will be soon punished for the desperate act.

“I wish those injured in the attack a speedy recovery, offer my condolences to the honorable families of the martyrs, and pray that God will grant forbearance to these dear people and lofty status to the highly esteemed martyrs.”