TEHRAN – The Iranian Intelligence Ministry issued a statement late on Friday saying nine persons have been arrested in connection to the Wednesday terrorist attacks in the southeastern city of Kerman.

The nine were arrested on Wednesday evening after the elements who transferred the suicide bombers to Iran were identified, the ministry said, adding one of the suicide bombers is a national of Tajikistan and the identity of the second one is still unknown.

Also, in the early morning of Thursday, the residing place of the two suicide bombers was found on the outskirts of Kerman and then two persons who provided logistics for them and gave sanctuary to them were arrested.

In the research operation, 9 members of the terrorist team were apprehended in six provinces. 

The ministry added the delay in issuing the statement was because devices ready for explosion were found at the hiding place of terrorists that could be possibly used by others for terrorist acts.

The devices confiscated from the network were two explosive vests, two remote control devices, thousands of bullets used in explosive belts, etc.

The suicide bombers detonated their explosive devices as people were heading to the burial site of Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani. In the twin terrorist attacks, which took place along the path of the mourners to Kerman's Martyrs Cemetery, 84 people were killed and 284 others injured.  

Kerman is the birthplace of Gen. Soleimani, the iconic anti-terror commander who was assassinated in a U.S. drone strike outside Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020.