US Intelligence Confirms ISIS Responsible for Bombings in Iran

According to two sources familiar with the intelligence, communications intercepts collected by the United States confirmed that the Islamic State group’s Afghanistan-based branch conducted twin bombings in Iran, resulting in nearly 100 casualties, Reuters reported on Friday.

One of the sources stated, “The intelligence is clear-cut and indisputable.”

Both sources, who requested anonymity, revealed that the intelligence consisted of communications intercepts, but did not provide further details. The collection of the intercepts has not been previously reported.

ISIS claimed responsibility for the bombings on Thursday, stating that two operatives wearing explosive suicide belts carried out the attack during a memorial service for Qassem Suleimani, a senior military commander assassinated in Iraq as a result of a 2020 U.S. drone strike.

However, the group did not specifically mention that its Afghanistan-based affiliate, known as ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), was responsible for the bombings in the southeastern Iranian city of Kerman.

One of the sources stated, “The U.S. has pretty clear intel” that ISIS-K conducted the attack.

The CIA declined to comment on the matter.

Iran announced on Friday that security forces had arrested 11 individuals suspected of involvement in the attack and had confiscated explosive devices and vests.