The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards today vowed to "retaliate" against the United States and Britain after accusing them of backing the perpetrators of a suicide bombing that killed six Guards commanders.
Iranian media say the Sunni Muslim insurgent group Jundollah (God's soldiers) has claimed responsibility for yesterday's bombing in Sistan-Baluchestan province, which killed 42 people in all.
The incident threatened to overshadow talks between Iran and global powers in Vienna today intended to tackle a standoff about Iran's nuclear ambitions.
Guards commander-in-chief Mohammad Ali Jafari said Iranian security officials had presented documents indicating "direct ties" from Jundollah to US, British and, "unfortunately", Pakistani intelligence organisations, the ISNA news agency said.
"Behind this scene are the American and British intelligence apparatus, and there will have to be retaliatory measures to punish them," Mr Jafari was quoted as saying.
Jundollah, which has been blamed for many attacks since 2005 in the desert province bordering Pakistan, says it is fighting to end discrimination against Sunni Muslims by Iran's dominant Shias. Its leader is Abdolmalek Rigi.
"This person himself and his plans are undoubtedly under the umbrella and the protection of these (US, British and Pakistani) organisations," Mr Jafari said.
Iranian television quoted General Mohammad Pakpour, commander of the Guards' ground forces, whose deputy was killed in the bombing, as saying: "The base of the terrorists and rebels has not been in Iran. They are trained by America and Britain in some of the neighbouring countries."
The United States, Pakistan and Britain have all condemned the bombing, the bloodiest attack in Iran since the 1980-88 war with Iraq, and denied involvement.
"We reject in the strongest terms any assertion that this attack has anything to do with Britain," said a spokeswoman at Britain's Foreign Office.
"Terrorism is abhorrent wherever it occurs."
The incident raised tension between Iran and major powers ahead of nuclear talks at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna.
On the agenda was a proposal that Iran send low enriched uranium abroad for further enrichment, to be used in a reactor where it produces medical isotopes.
Ali Shirzadian, spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation, said today that Tehran would carry out the supplementary enrichment itself if there was no agreement in its talks with Russia, France and the United States.
Reuters