The Islamic State has taken credit for an attack that killed 84 people and left dozens wounded in Kerman, in southern Iran. The bombing was significant because it was on the anniversary of the assassination by the United States of Qasem Soleimani, who was the commander of the Iranian Quds force 1998 until he was killed on January 3rd, 2020 by a U.S. drone strike under the orders of Donald Trump. At the time, Soleimani was on his way to meet with the Prime Minister of Iraq and in fact he was killed in Iraq, near Baghdad International Airport.

Souleimani was a popular figure for leading the Quds force and the fight against the Islamic State not just in Iran, but leading Iran’s assistance against the fight in Syria.

The January 3rd attack in Kerman is not the first IS attack in Iran, but likely the deadliest.

We’re joined today by Mazda Majidi, Iranian author, journalist, and anti-war activist to talk about why the US targeted Soleimani, why IS targeted Iran and the role Iran plays in the wider region.

Mazda Majidi also joined CovertAction Bulletin in December of 2022 to discuss the protests happening in the wake of the death of Mahsa Amimi. Listen to that interview on CovertActionMagazine.com. 

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