In a recent development, US intelligence has confirmed that the Islamic State’s Afghanistan-based branch, ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), was responsible for the twin bombings in Iran that resulted in nearly 100 casualties. The intelligence, described as clear-cut and indisputable, was obtained through communications intercepts, according to sources familiar with the matter.
The bombings, which occurred on Wednesday, marked the deadliest attacks in Iran since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The incidents have further escalated regional tensions, coinciding with the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza and attacks by the Tehran-aligned Houthi group on commercial shipping in the Red Sea.
ISIS claimed responsibility for the bombings on Thursday, stating that two operatives wearing explosive suicide belts staged the attack during a memorial service for Qassem Soleimani, a senior military commander assassinated in Iraq in a 2020 US drone strike. However, the group did not explicitly attribute the attacks to its Afghanistan-based affiliate, ISIS-K.
“The U.S. has pretty clear intel that ISIS-K conducted the attack,” remarked one of the sources. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has chosen not to comment on the matter.
ISIS-Khorasan, a Sunni Muslim militant group, has consistently targeted Shi’ites, viewing them as apostates. Iran, predominantly Shiite, has been a frequent target of attacks by the group. In 2022, ISIS claimed responsibility for an attack on a Shiite shrine in Iran, resulting in 15 casualties. Additionally, the group was behind bombings in 2017 that targeted the parliament and the tomb of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.
In response to the recent bombings, Iran announced on Friday that security forces had arrested 11 individuals suspected of involvement in the attacks. Authorities also reported the seizure of explosive devices and vests.
While the Taliban’s crackdowns have weakened ISIS-K and prompted some members to leave Afghanistan for neighboring countries, the affiliate has maintained its focus on plotting foreign operations, according to US officials. The confirmation of ISIS-K’s involvement in the Iran bombings underscores the persistent threat posed by the group in the region.
