TEHRAN- Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei has issued a message, vowing a powerful response to those behind Wednesday’s terrorist attacks in Kerman.

The message comes in the wake of the two blasts which occurred at an event held in Iran’s southern city of Kerman in commemoration of the fourth martyrdom anniversary of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani. 

The Leader said that the evil and wicked enemies of the Iranian nation once again fomented a disaster which led to the martyrdom of a large number of innocent people while paying respect to the late commander.  

“The Iranian people have been inundated with sorrow and grief, mourning the deaths of their loved ones. The hard-hearted criminals could not bear the love and enthusiasm of the people who were paying homage to the shrine of the martyr Qassem Soleimani,” he added.  

Ayatollah Khamenei went on to note, “Cruel criminals must understand that the soldiers of Soleimani’s path do not tolerate their vileness and crime and they must know that they will be harshly dealt with from now on and a fair punishment awaits them”. “This heinous act will provoke a firm response”, the leader said.

The Leader of the Islamic revolution stressed that the hands that are stained with the blood of innocent people as well as the corrupt minds that ushered them in perpetuating such crimes should anticipate just and crushing punishment and retribution. 

Ayatollah Khamenei described the perpetrators of the bombings in Kerman as the “rogue and murderous enemies of the Iranian people”.

Elsewhere in his message, he offered condolences to the bereaved families, wishing divine mercy on the martyrs and swift recovery for the injured.