Khamenei: The connection between the attack on the IRGC bus and foreign intelligence agencies is certain

In response to the attack on a bus carrying members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in eastern Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, attributed the attack to "the intelligence agencies of certain regional and extra-regional countries." In a message published on Thursday, February 25, Khamenei stated that "the connection between the perpetrators of this crime and the intelligence agencies of certain regional and extra-regional countries is certain," and instructed the "responsible agencies" to focus on this connection and pursue it seriously. Khamenei did not provide details about this connection or evidence that substantiates it. According to the "Quds Headquarters" of the IRGC Ground Forces, at least 27 passengers were killed and 13 others were injured during the suicide attack on the bus that occurred on Wednesday evening on the road between Khash and Zahedan. The group known as "Jaish al-Adl" claimed responsibility for this attack. Khamenei also stated that "investigating any possible negligence in this incident is also the IRGC's definite duty." Other officials of the Islamic Republic condemned the attack, attributing it to other countries. Hassan Rouhani, the President of Iran, also attributed the attack to the "White House, Tel Aviv, and their regional agents" without providing evidence. He warned "some neighbors" at Mehrabad Airport before leaving Tehran for Sochi, Russia, that if they cannot stop the terrorists, Iran will assert its rights. Mohammad Ali Jafari, the commander of the IRGC, stated that the IRGC will take revenge for this attack "from the wicked enemies affiliated with the global arrogance camp." His deputy, Ali Fadavi, also mentioned that the response to this attack "is not limited to the geography that concerns us but relates to the geography of the Islamic Revolution." Several officials, including Ali Larijani, the Speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, and Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Foreign Minister of Iran, pointed out the coincidence of this attack with the Warsaw conference. Zarif tweeted, without providing details, that "the terrorists celebrated this attack from the streets of Warsaw." However, the Polish Foreign Ministry condemned all forms of terrorism, including the attack on the bus, emphasizing that "no terrorist is present in Warsaw today" and that what exists is "democracy, freedom of expression, and solidarity." Concurrently with the Warsaw conference, hosted jointly by the US and Poland, groups of opponents of the Islamic Republic, including supporters of the "People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran" and some royalists, held gatherings in the streets of Warsaw. The attack on the bus carrying IRGC members has also drawn reactions from several countries. The Emir of Kuwait and the foreign ministries or diplomats of Pakistan, Turkey, Lebanon, Syria, and India are among the countries that condemned the attack on the bus in eastern Iran. Helena Sangland, the Swedish ambassador in Tehran, and Stefan Schultz, the Austrian ambassador in Tehran, also emphasized that no country is safe from the consequences of extremism and violence, and any terrorist action must be condemned. Alistair Burt, an official from the UK Foreign Office, expressed condolences to the families of the victims of this attack, stating that terrorism is unacceptable anywhere and must be condemned.