Senior Advisor of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies: The Kerman Explosions are a Type of Domestic Security Threat and Have No Connection to Israel or the U.S.

Richard Goldberg, senior advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, states that all evidence from the attacks on Wednesday in Kerman indicates that this act is a type of domestic security threat to Iran and has no connection to Israel or the U.S. In an exclusive interview with Voice of America, Goldberg referred to the destructive actions of the Islamic Republic's proxy groups in the region, saying, "The killing of Qassem Soleimani during the Trump administration sent a message to the leaders of the Islamic Republic that they should seriously calculate the risks in their actions and expect a military response from the U.S. However, the Tehran regime has currently reestablished all its connections and is acting boldly without fear of U.S. military action by spending money." The senior advisor also noted, "The ruling regime in Iran has become very vulnerable and is extremely concerned about how Israel or the U.S. will react to their indirect actions, whether through the Houthis or militias in Iraq and Syria. But on a broader level, the regime must face the reality that they are also vulnerable within their own country." He emphasized, "Mossad and Israel have infiltrated the security, nuclear, or missile circles of the Islamic Republic, and the regime no longer has complete control even within its own territorial limits. Yet, it tries to project an image of complete control over the region, and in fact, this is an opportunity for the West to exploit this weakness and push the Iranian regime back in the region." Richard Goldberg considered increasing comprehensive pressure as the only way to push back and limit the destructive activities of the Islamic Republic, adding, "I support a combined strategy of pressure and deterrence. Pressure means that we should restore economic pressures while simultaneously making it clear to the regime that they do not have the option of assassination or military action in response to such pressure, and any such action will face a military response from the U.S." It is noteworthy that ISIS claimed responsibility for the deadly explosions in Kerman on Wednesday during a memorial for Qassem Soleimani. The "Islamic State" (ISIS) stated in a statement published on Thursday, January 14, on Telegram channels affiliated with the group that two ISIS members detonated their "explosive belts" among the crowd gathered on Wednesday for the anniversary of Soleimani's death at the Kerman cemetery. Iranian officials previously identified "terrorists" as the perpetrators of these explosions and promised to take revenge. Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, after ISIS claimed responsibility for the Kerman explosions, implicitly stated that the U.S. assessment confirms this. Miller, during a press conference on Thursday, January 14, in response to a question about the latest U.S. assessment of the deadly bombing on Wednesday, January 13, in Kerman, said, "Based on all available information, it is clear to us that this was a terrorist attack. We have seen reports indicating that ISIS has claimed responsibility." The State Department spokesperson further added, "At this time, I cannot provide an official assessment from this podium regarding who is responsible for that bombing, but this attack has all the hallmarks of ISIS attacks." Miller emphasized the terrorist nature of this attack and once again expressed condolences to the victims of what we believe to be a clear terrorist attack. What is the responsibility of the Islamic Republic in the Kerman explosions? Debate between Mehdi Khazali and Hamed Sheibani-rad. Users on social media: Why were there no IRGC members or government officials among the casualties in Kerman? Changing casualty figures from the Kerman explosions; ongoing contradictions among officials and media regarding the perpetrator of the attack. Michael Pregent: The Islamic Republic also knows that the Kerman explosions have nothing to do with Israel. Prince Reza Pahlavi: ISIS and the Islamic Republic are two sides of the same coin of radical Islamic terrorism. U.S. reaction to ISIS's claim of responsibility for the Kerman explosions: Our assessment is the same. Conversation between the foreign ministers of the U.S. and France; Blinken called for an immediate end to the "illegal" Houthi attacks. The UN Security Council condemned the deadly Kerman explosions. ISIS claimed responsibility for the deadly Kerman explosions on the anniversary of Soleimani.