Iran says it foiled attack on Russian consulate

Iran says it foiled attack on Russian consulate

By Najmeh Bozorgmehr in Tehran

Published: May 14 2008 14:54 | Last updated: May 14 2008 14:54

Iran says it has foiled an attempt by an alleged US-sponsored “terrorist” group to bomb the Russian consulate in Rasht in northern Iran.

“A terrorist network linked to the US intended to stir up Iran’s relations with its neighbours by bombing the Russian consulate in Rasht [in Gilan province which has maritime border with Russia],” Iran’s intelligence minister told reporters on Wednesday.

Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei added that the US was behind “all terrorist moves” in Iran, including last month’s explosion in a mosque in southern city of Shiraz which killed 14 people and injured 190. “The financial support and the means for the sabotage were provided by those residing in the US.”

Iran recently acknowledged that the Shiraz explosion was a bomb attack after weeks of denial. The Islamic regime plays down ethnic and religious tensions in the country, where religious minorities make up about 10 per cent of the population and ethnic minorities, including Kurds, Arabs, Baluchis and Azeris, form just under 50 per cent.

The central government has repeatedly accused US and Britain of fomenting such tensions by providing financial and military support for dissident groups.

Mr Ejei claimed that those who masterminded the Shiraz bombing had been planning to attack academic centres, seminaries and mosques.

“Their goal was to create religious differences through these assassinations and bombings,” the minister said, adding that the group had also been behind the kidnapping of Friday prayer leaders and attacks on Sunni mosques.

Earlier Mr Ejei hinted that the Pakistan-based Jundallah group could be behind the Shiraz attack. Iran suspects that Jihadists are attempting to spread a radical version of Sunni Islam in the Shia-dominated country.

The judiciary spokesman said on Tuesday that 12 suspects for the bombing had “confessed” to their links with the US and Britain.

Iran has said the detainees are Iranian nationals except for the ring leader whose identity has not been disclosed.