The foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Ghasemi said on Saturday that sponsors and supporters of terrorism and violence and their apologists and mouthpieces cannot cover up their direct involvement in backing anti-Iran terrorists through false rhetoric and claims.

Iran Press- Iran/ Expressing sympathy and solidarity with families of the victims of the terror attack, and expressing condolence to the people of Khuzestan province in southwestern Iran, Ghasemi said that employees of the known centers of violence against humanity as well as intellectual, financial and media sponsors of terrorism in the region and beyond should be sure that they would never be able to influence willpower of the Iranian nation in the all-out fight against unbridled terrorism through such filthy acts, IRNA reported.

Terror attack on military parade in Ahvaz

Islamic Republic of Iran will continue its non-stop efforts to promote regional security and stability and fighting terrorism, he said.

The foreign ministry spokesman added: "Terrorism as the scourge of the century which has taken aim at global peace and stability transcends geography, religion, ethnicity, race and language, and has turned into a truly global threat which cannot be dealt with except through serious public resolve."

At least 25 people were martyred and more than 60 others injured during Saturday morning's terror attack in Ahvaz, capital of Khuzestan Province, in southwestern Iran.

"The terrorists disguised as the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and Baseej (volunteer) forces opened fire at the authorities and people from behind the stand during a parade," governor of Khuzestan province Gholam-Reza Shariati said earlier. The self-proclaimed Saudi-affiliated Al-Ahwaziyeh terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack. Also on its "A'magh" website, the Daesh terrorist group (also known as ISIS) has accepted responsibility for the Ahwaz attack. 

Iranian forces killed three of the terrorists in a clash after the attack, and a remaining terrorist died in hospital.

Most of the casualties of Ahvaz terrorist attack are civilians.

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The terrorist group responsible for the attack is the same group that targeted Rahian-e Noor convoys visiting Iran-Iraq war sites last year.

The terrorist group is known to have received extensive support from both London and Riyadh.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) spokesman Ramezan Sharif said the attackers were affiliated to a terrorist group supported by Saudi Arabia.  

"The individuals who fired at the people and the armed forces during the parade are connected to the al-Ahvaziyeh group which is fed by Saudi Arabia," he said.

Sharif said the shooting is not unprecedented and the group which is also supported by the UK has attacked convoys of those visiting the former frontlines of Saddam's war on Iran in recent years.

The attack comes after a US-backed campaign to stir up unrest in Iranian cities fell flat. The effort, known as the Hot Summer Project, sought to whip up public anger over water and electricity shortages in the face of a protracted drought.

On Saturday 22nd September 2018, Gunmen opened fire on people from behind a viewing stand at Quds Boulevard of Ahvaz during the parade held to mark the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein's invasion of Iran which led to an eight-year war in the 1980s.

Similar powerful military parades are held in different cities of Iran and the terrorist attack in Ahvaz is expected to have no effect on future military parades.

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