Tehran:
In what appears to be more bad news for peace and stability in the Middle East region, at least 31 people including top commanders of the Iranian Army were killed in a suicide attack by a Sunni militant group in the Sistan-Baluchestan province of the country.
"A terrorist attack in Southeastern Iran has killed scores of people including several senior officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," Iran's state television announced the deadly suicide attack on Sunday.
Among those killed was its deputy commander, General Noor Ali Shooshtari.
"The intention of these terrorists was definitely to disrupt security in Sistan-Baluchestan province because these dear ones were working round-the-clock to bring security in the region. Such behaviours are aimed at preventing economic development from happening in the region," said Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.
Jundallah (Soldiers of God), a group of the minority Sunnis, has claimed responsibility, but Iran has accused the US and Britain of backing the rebels.
The attack is immensely significant. In April, Iran had placed security in Sistan-Baluchestan Province under the command of the Revolutionary Guards which controls Iran's missile programme and has its own ground, naval and air units.
Apart from that, the high profile attack in Southeast Iran could perhaps make the region even more unpredictable, for its immediate neighbours -- South Afghanistan and Pakistan's Balouchistan Province -- are equally, if not more, volatile.
"A terrorist attack in Southeastern Iran has killed scores of people including several senior officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps," Iran's state television announced the deadly suicide attack on Sunday.
Among those killed was its deputy commander, General Noor Ali Shooshtari.
"The intention of these terrorists was definitely to disrupt security in Sistan-Baluchestan province because these dear ones were working round-the-clock to bring security in the region. Such behaviours are aimed at preventing economic development from happening in the region," said Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.
Jundallah (Soldiers of God), a group of the minority Sunnis, has claimed responsibility, but Iran has accused the US and Britain of backing the rebels.
The attack is immensely significant. In April, Iran had placed security in Sistan-Baluchestan Province under the command of the Revolutionary Guards which controls Iran's missile programme and has its own ground, naval and air units.
Apart from that, the high profile attack in Southeast Iran could perhaps make the region even more unpredictable, for its immediate neighbours -- South Afghanistan and Pakistan's Balouchistan Province -- are equally, if not more, volatile.
