Iran: Senior Revolutionary Guard Commanders Killed In Suicide Attack

Iranian state media report that a suicide bomber in the troubled southeast has killed more than 29 people, among them at least six commanders of the elite Revolutionary Guard.
Deputy commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard's ground force, Gen. Noor Ali Shooshtari is among those killed in the attack, Sunday, 18 Oct. 2009

The explosion occurred early Sunday in Pisheen, in the troubled Sistan-Baluchistan region bordering Pakistan.


State media say the deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards ground forces and a commander of the Guards in Sistan Baluchistan are among those killed.

The reports say a suicide bomber targeted a reconciliation meeting between local Shi'ite and Sunni leaders. Minority Sunni groups, in particular ethnic Baluchis, have long complained of discrimination in the Shi'ite dominated country.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, one of the deadliest in years. In the past, the Sunni insurgent group Jundallah, or Soldiers of God, has said it was behind acts of violence in the region.

Paul Ingram, co-director of the London-based British-American Security Information Council, notes that similar attacks have been going on for years. But he says this one stands out.

"This is a very unusual attack in as much as it appears to be a successful attack upon the Revolutionary Guards at such a high level involving so many of the senior officers," Ingram said.

Iran's speaker of parliament, Ali Larijani, said the attack was meant to create insecurity in Sistan-Baluchistan and hurt the region's economic development.

A statement by the Revolutionary Guards, relayed by state media, accuses foreign elements linked to "global arrogance" of being involved. The term is often used to refer to the United States.

Security analyst Paul Ingram says such accusations are problematic.

"It is very difficult because the Americans, the support for such groups, in as much as it does exist, is very secretive," Ingram said. "It is very difficult to really pin down and there have been these sorts of accusations from the Revolutionary Guards in the past."

Ingram notes the Iranian government has an interest in deflecting blame to foreign elements.

Tehran is under pressure both at home, over the disputed presidential election in June, and abroad, for its controversial nuclear program.

Source: http://www.voanews.com/english/2009-10-18-voa3.cfm