Iran accuses US, UK of backing Sunni group behind mosque attacks

London, July 17 (ANI): Iran has accused the United States and Britain for supporting Jundullah, the Sunni separatist group, which behind the twin blasts that killed 28 and injured 167 people at a mosque in Zahedan.

According to The Guardian, Iran alleged that "hardline Wahabis and Salafis trained by the CIA in Pakistan" were behind the bombings. Iran has claimed Rigi confessed that the US had assured him of unlimited aid and funding for the waging an insurgency against the Islamic republic.

However, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has denied allegations tha it has been backing the Sunni separatist group. US and Britain, which are at odds with Iran over its controversial nuclear programme, have issued statements condemning the attacks.

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, condemned the explosions and expressed condolences to relatives of the victims. "This attack, along with the recent attacks in Uganda, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Algeria, underscores the global community's need to work together to combat terrorist organisations that threaten the lives of innocent civilians all around the world," she said.

"This attack, along with the recent attacks in Uganda, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, and Algeria, underscores the global community's need to work together to combat terrorist organisations that threaten the lives of innocent civilians all around the world," Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, said.

The Shia worshippers were celebrating the birthday of the prophet Muhammad's grandson Hussein when the first bomb detonated, followed by a second explosion that took place 15 minutes later as people rushed to help.

Earlier, Jundullah had claimed responsibility for a double suicide bombing at the mosque.

Meanwhile, Iran has vowed to hunt down Jundullah or "the soldiers of God" as they call themselves, after it claimed that it carried out the blasts in retaliation for the execution of the group's captured leader Abdulmalik Rigi, in June, after he was captured in Pakistan and extradited to Iran.

Meanwhile, Iran has declared three days of mourning.

General Hossein Salami, deputy commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, has claimed that the victims "were martyred by the hands of mercenaries of the US and UK". Ali Mohammad Azad, governor of Sistan-Baluchestan province, blamed "the intelligence services of arrogant powers."

The report states that Jundullah's website showed pictures of two suicide bombers, who were identified as Mohammad and Mujahid Rigi, apparently members of the leader's clan. (ANI)