Iran identifies bomb-maker behind IS Twin suicide attack, death toll rises to 94

• Iran identifies the alleged bomb-maker and ringleader behind the IS twin suicide attack
• Death toll rises to at least 94 from the January 3 attack in Kerman
• Tajik national, Abdollah Tajiki, identified as the main suspect; ongoing efforts to identify the second bomber

Iran's intelligence ministry has revealed a top suspect believed to be the ringleader and bomb-maker responsible for the twin suicide bombings on January 3, claimed by the Islamic State (IS) group. The attack, targeting a commemoration for an Iranian general slain in a 2020 U.S. drone strike in Iraq, marked the deadliest incident in Iran in decades, with the death toll now reaching at least 94.

The suspect, identified as a Tajik national using the alias Abdollah Tajiki, entered Iran in mid-December, crossing the southeast border, and left just two days before orchestrating the attack. Authorities are actively pursuing leads to identify the second suicide bomber, while 35 individuals with alleged links to the bombings have been arrested across multiple provinces.

The twin suicide bombings unfolded during a ceremony in Kerman, southeast of Tehran, with the first bomber detonating explosives at the event and the second targeting emergency workers and bystanders 20 minutes later. The intelligence ministry's statement revealed that Tajiki, the alleged mastermind, had undergone training by IS in Afghanistan before entering Iran.

The report also identified one of the bombers, Bozrov, as a 24-year-old with dual Tajik and Israeli nationality, who arrived in Iran after crossing the southeastern border. The death toll from the attack has risen to 94, including 14 Afghan nationals participating in the commemoration for Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, leader of the Quds Force. The ongoing investigations and arrests underscore Iran's efforts to address the aftermath of this devastating act.