Ahvaz terror attack perpetrators to face severe punishment: Ayat. Khamenei

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei says Iran will severely punish those “cowardly” elements who were behind a recent terrorist attack in the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz.

Hawzah News Agency - (Tehran - Iran) - Ayatollah Khamenei made the remarks in a meeting in Tehran on Monday with a group of athletes and medal winners of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Terrorists on Saturday opened fire at a crowd of people during a military parade in Ahvaz, killing 25 military personnel and civilians — including women and children — and wounding at least 68 others.

Masses of Iranian people and government officials on Monday participated in a funeral procession for the victims of the terrorist attack in Ahvaz.

Ayatollah Khamenei said the bitter incident “once again showed that the Iranian nation is faced with many enemies on its honorable path to progress and excellence.”

Describing the attack on defenseless people as an act of cowardice, the Leader noted, “According to [available] reports, this cowardly act has been perpetrated by the same people who are saved by Americans whenever they face a difficult situation in Iraq and Syria” and whose operations are being financed by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.