Explosions Near Qasem Soleimani's Tomb Claim Lives of 50 People, Reports State Media

According to state media, two bombings near the tomb of Qasem Soleimani, an Iranian Revolutionary Guards general, have resulted in the deaths of at least 50 people on the fourth anniversary of his assassination. A procession near the Saheb al-Zaman mosque in the city of Kerman was targeted by the blasts, leaving another 60 people injured. The deputy governor of Kerman described it as a "terrorist attack." A circulated online video displayed multiple bodies on a road. The incident occurred during a ceremony to honor Gen Soleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in Iraq last year. Soleimani was widely regarded as Iran's second most influential figure after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. As the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' overseas operations division, the Quds Force, he played a significant role in shaping Iranian policy throughout the region. He oversaw clandestine missions, provided guidance, funding, weapons, intelligence, and logistical support to allied governments and armed groups, including Hamas and Hezbollah. Then-US President Donald Trump, who authorized the assassination, referred to Soleimani as "the number-one terrorist anywhere in the world."