Imam Khamenei urges officials to address causes of deadly incidents in Iran's Semnan, Iraq's Hilla

(AhlulBayt News Agency) - Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei voiced deep sorrow over recent incidents in Iran and neighboring Iraq that led to the deaths of scores of Iranian nationals, urging the country's officials to address them “at source”.

In a message released on Saturday, Ayatollah Khamenei expressed grief over a terrorist attack near the Iraqi city of Hilla on Thursday that killed scores of people, including dozens of Iranian nationals returning home from Arbaeen pilgrimage in Karbala, and a deadly train crash in Semnan Province on Friday that left 45 people dead.

The Leader denounced the terrorist attack in Iraq as a “heinous and cowardly” attempt by Takfiri groups to take revenge for their defeats, saying that they once again showed their evil face.

Ayatollah Khamenei said that in the second incident (the train crash), the negligence and imprudence of those involved led to a tragedy.

The Leader expressed condolences to the bereaved families of the victims of the “painful incidents” and urged officials to make efforts to alleviate their suffering and address the root causes of the tragedies.

According to reports, at least 100 people, including tens of Iranians, were killed and dozens wounded in the bomb blast at a gas station near the town of Hilla, 100 km (62 miles) south of Baghdad, on Thursday.

The ISIS terrorist group claimed responsibility for the assault.

At least 45 Iranians were also killed in the train crash which occurred near Haft-Khan station, on the railroad linking the Iranian cities of Semnan and Damghan, in a mountainous area at around 8 a.m. local time on Friday.

A passenger train travelling between capital Tehran and the northeastern holy city of Mashhad was stopping near the station when another train hit it from behind, setting a number of cars ablaze.


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