Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei vowed harsh measures against those who carried out a recent terrorist attack in the southwestern city of Ahvaz in Khuzestan Province.
“Definitely, we will impose severe punishment on the perpetrators of the assault,” he said during a meeting with Iranian champions of the 2018 Asian Games, which was held in Jakarta, Indonesia, from Aug. 18 to Sept. 2.
The Leader commended the Iranian athletes who managed to earn 57 medals at the games.
“The brave job is carried out by the exuberant youth who bring honor to the country in scientific and sport competitions,” he said.
Ayatollah Khamenei referred to the attack on “defenseless people” in Ahvaz as "a cowardly action".
“Based on reports, this cowardly move was carried out by those who have been saved by Americans whenever they were in trouble in Syria and Iraq, and who are in the pay of Saudi Arabia and UAE,” he said.
Arrests
Intelligence Minister Mahmoud Alavi said earlier in the day that a "large" network of suspects linked to the Ahvaz attack, which killed at least 24 people, have been arrested.
"We will identify them all, down to the last person, and a large number of them have already been arrested," ISNA quoted him as saying on the sidelines of the funeral of the victims.
He did not provide any details about the identity or number of those arrested.
On Saturday, gunmen disguised as soldiers targeted a stand in the city where officials and spectators had gathered to watch an annual military parade marking the start of the 1980-88 Iraq-imposed war.
More than 60 were wounded in the bloodiest assault on the country in recent years.
Strong Message
The intelligence minister said all the perpetrators of the attack will face severe punishment.
"We will send this message to the world that Islamic Iran is not a place to carry out inhuman atrocities," he said.
"The Iranian nation will not remain silent in the face of such acts of terrorism and will take revenge on those who committed this crime."
Monday was declared a national day of mourning, and public offices, banks, schools and universities were closed in Khuzestan Province.
A number of the victims were laid to rest during a public funeral ceremony in Ahvaz, as thousands of people packed the streets to sympathize with their families and express their condemnation of the bloodshed.
Greater Solidarity
Alavi said such criminal acts will not harm the solidarity among the people of different ethnicities in Khuzestan.
"It will only make people more united against the world arrogant powers," he added, referring to the United States.
Senior commanders of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, whose members were among the victims, have said the attack was carried out by militants trained by Persian Gulf states and Israel, and backed by the US.
Both an ethnic Arab group and the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group have claimed responsibility for the attack.
US Economic War
Speaking on the sidelines of the mourning ceremony, Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said the terrorist move was a continuation of the economic warfare waged by the US administration against the Islamic Republic, IRNA reported.
"Through such acts, the enemy is seeking to create chaos, insecurity and unrest in the country," he added, noting that all evil plots will be thwarted by the Iranian nation.
