Terror attack near General Soleimani's grave likely involves Russia - orientalist Yakubovych

Mykhailo Yakubovych, an orientalist, PhD in History, researcher at the Oriental Studies Department of the University of Freiburg, shared his opinion on the Espreso TV channel.

"In Iran, people love these kinds of mourning ceremonies because the religious and political culture is built on various "howls" about the martyrs. But often state employees, the so-called komsomolets, are sent to these rallies. According to the Iranian opposition, this terrorist attack is the responsibility of the authorities. It is likely that this happened with the support of the Russian Federation," he said.

According to him, this "crowd" had no military significance. Most likely, if the Israelis or Americans were behind this act, military plants located in other regions would have suffered.

"According to Iranian oppositionists, all of Soleimani's closest relatives were not present at the ceremony. They were warned that for security reasons they should not come. People, ordinary citizens, who were sent to this rally, suffered. At first, there was one explosion, and later, when ambulances arrived, there was a second. This style is reminiscent of Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin," Yakubovych said.

Therefore, there is an opinion that these terrorist attacks were organized by the Iranian authorities themselves to raise the degree of tension, he added.

"Iranian society no longer shares this 'eternal Palestinian theme' that Iranians should always care about Palestine, while Palestine is basically under Israeli control. Iran itself does nothing to endanger Israel," Yakubovych summarized.

• On Wednesday, January 3, several powerful explosions occurred in the Iranian city of Kerman, killing at least 84 people and injuring 284.