Number of Martyrs Rises to Two
Iran Captures Terrorists Linked to Shrine Attack
TEHRAN – The chief justice of Fars province on Monday announced the martyrdom of one of those injured in the terrorist incident in the holy shrine of Shah Cheragh.
“Unfortunately, Muhammad Jahangiri, one of the injured in the terrorist incident last night in Shiraz, achieved martyrdom due to the severity of his injuries,” Kazem Mousavi said.
“With the martyrdom of this 29-year-old young man, who was wounded in the chest and abdomen, the number of martyrs increased to two.”
Iranian officials said Daesh was behind the second attack in less than a year on a major shrine in southern Shiraz and arrested a group of foreign nationals for the assault.
“The motivation of this Daeshi individual was to take revenge for the executions of the two terrorists of the previous incident,” said the governor of the province of Fars, where the shooting occurred.
Iranian media also pointed out that Daesh-K, the Khorasan affiliate of the terrorist group, had last month appeared to threaten Iran for the execution of two of its operatives.
Speaking on Monday, Ramezan Sharif, the spokesperson of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), said: “The goals of Daesh and other terrorists against the national interests and people of Iran are intertwined,” and vowed that “we will give a decisive response to the terrorists”.
A lone gunman, identified as Rahmatollah Nowruzof from Tajikistan, entered the Shah Cheragh Shrine on Sunday evening and opened fire on pilgrims and staff, martyring one and injuring several others.
Several people were taken to the hospital in critical condition, with at least one person falling into a coma, reports have said.
The shrine, one of the holiest in Shia Islam, was also breached on October 26, 2022, when an armed terrorist entered the compound with an assault rifle, martyring 13 and injuring 40 before being shot dead.
For that attack, which Iranian officials also called a “terrorist” operation, two men from neighboring Afghanistan were convicted of being Daesh agents and executed in early June.
Three more men were also tried and given prison sentences ranging from five to 25 years for working with the armed group, which claimed responsibility for the attack, and was also responsible for coordinated attacks in Tehran in 2017.
Sunday’s shooter was apprehended at the scene by members of the shrine’s staff and security personnel.
The Tasnim news agency on Monday quoted Fars chief justice Mousavi as saying that 10 people have so far been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the shooting, all of whom were foreign nationals.
“The safe house of the terrorists has also been discovered,” he said without elaborating.
After travelling to the shrine on Monday, Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the assailant was being directed from abroad “as part of a network”.
The minister castigated international organizations and so-called rights advocates for remaining silent on the attack, saying their silence fuels terrorism.
“Last year, we witnessed a similar incident in the holy shrine, where a group of our loved ones were martyred. All international bodies and the countries claiming to be advocating human rights remained silent. Their silence promotes such terrorist acts,” Vahidi told reporters.
“We will wait to see their reaction to this terrorist incident. Of course, it is predicted that they will remain tight-lipped about the terrorist act and will not show a reaction.”
Vahidi blamed the assault on Iran’s “sworn enemies,” who wrongly think that they can endanger the country’s security and stability with their “cowardly” acts.
The minister pledged severe punishment against those who cooperated, supported, and participated in the attack.
Parliament speaker Muhammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the nation expects the judiciary to swiftly punish the perpetrators of the horrible crime.
“Compromising national security and disrupting peace and the people’s daily lives is what enemies of Iran usually do, which has been intensified in recent weeks but thwarted through the vigilance of security forces,” he said.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said the terrorists are trying to take revenge on Iranian citizens for the “heavy blows” they were dealt by the Islamic Republic over the past years.
“Attacking innocent pilgrims in the holy shrine is a criminal act to avenge the heavy blows that they (terrorists) suffered at the hands of brave and dedicated Iranian forces in the battlefields,” he noted.
Wave of Condemnations
Russia’s embassy in Tehran strongly denounced the terror attack, reaffirming its readiness to further increase cooperation with Iran in the fight against terrorism.
The embassy further extended its condolences to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, the Iranian nation, and the families of the victims over the terrorist attack.
“Russia strongly condemns the incident and extends its words of heartfelt sympathy to the families and friends of the victims and the injured. We hope that those responsible for the terrorist attack will be found and duly punished,” the statement said.
Iraqi Shia cleric and head of National Wisdom Movement, Ammar Hakim, also condemned the criminal act by the Daesh-linked terrorist.
“We sincerely offer our condolences to the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, the government and the Muslim nation of Iran for this tragic incident,” he said in a statement.
“We ask the God Almighty to bestow forbearance and patience to the bereaved families of martyrs on this irreparable loss and wish speedy recovery for the injured,” Hakim added.
The prominent Shia figure further called on the international community, particularly the countries affected by the scourge of terrorism, to unite in order to uproot all the sources of terrorism and reduce its destructive effects on the security and stability of nations.
Pakistan’s parliament speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf also condemned the terrorist attack, extending his condolences to the government and the people of Iran.
“Terrorists are trying to destroy the peace and stability of the region for their sinister purposes,” Pervaiz said in a statement.
He said attacking innocent people and shedding their blood has nothing to do with religion, pointing out that terrorist acts can never be justified in Islam.