UN Photo/Loey Felipe. The Iranian flag in front of the United Nations Headquarters building in New York.
In a media statement issued today, the Council condemned in the strongest terms the "reprehensible" and "cowardly" terrorist attack that took place on Wednesday in the Iranian city of Kerman. The incident has reportedly killed 84 people, including children and women, and injured more than 200 people, some seriously.
According to media reports, on the 3rd, the commemoration of the death of the late Iranian senior general Qassim Suleimani was held in the city of Kerman, and two explosions occurred near the Soleimani cemetery, ten minutes apart. At the time of the incident, hundreds of people gathered at the scene to participate in the commemoration.
Before his death, Soleimani was the commander of the Quds Force under the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, whose main work was to strengthen Iran's regional influence and fight the Sunni extremist group Daesh (also known as "ISIL"). He was killed in a U.S. drone strike outside Baghdad International Airport in Iraq on January 3, 2020.
According to reports, Daesh claimed responsibility for two suicide bombings on the 4th. Previously, the group had carried out attacks in Shia-majority Iran.
Terrorism must be combated
The members of the Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Iran and wished the injured a speedy and full recovery.
The members of the Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security.
The members of the Council stressed the need to hold accountable and bring to justice the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism. They urged all States to cooperate actively with Iran and all other relevant authorities in this regard, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions.
The members of the Council reaffirmed that any act of terrorism is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motives, when, wherever, and by whomsoever committed. They reaffirmed that all States must use all means to combat threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law.
