Dozens dead and wounded in an armed attack targeting a military parade in Ahwaz, southern Iran

Dozens dead and wounded in an armed attack targeting a military parade in Ahwaz, southern Iran
An attack by gunmen targeting a military parade in the southwestern Iranian city of Ahwaz on Saturday killed 24 people and wounded more than 50 others, including children and journalists.
Iranian media reported that gunmen attacked Iranian army and Revolutionary Guard troops during a military parade in the southwestern city of Ahwaz on the anniversary of the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq war.
According to our correspondent in Tehran, Iranian President Hassan Rowhani left the military parade in Tehran after the news of the armed attack in Ahvaz.
During a meeting with Iran International, the group condemned the attack on the military parade in Ahvaz.
Al-Tastari said that the Ahwazi national resistance was responsible for the attack, adding that "the attack is revenge for the oppression that is being inflicted on the Arabs in Ahwaz," adding that "we have no way but resistance."
The Revolutionary Guards blamed the group for the attack, adding that two gunmen were arrested and a third was liquidated.
Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ramadan Sharif said that "members of the Ahwazi group shot the people and the armed forces," adding that the group was "backed by Saudi Arabia."
A spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards said that the group had previously targeted the summer summer camps, held by the Basij. The terrorist organization later claimed responsibility for the attack
Local media reported that a number of gunmen opened fire on the military and people at the scene of the military parade, killing a number of military personnel and wounding others.
State television accused "Takfiri elements", referring to Sunni militants, in the attack in the city of Ahwaz, the center of the province of Khuzestan and saw separate protests of the Arab minority in Iran.
The ISNA quoted an unnamed Revolutionary Guards spokesman as blaming Arab nationalists who he said were backed by Saudi Arabia.
Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia have surged over the past few years as the two countries have been embroiled in warring Syria and Yemen and rival political parties in Iraq and Lebanon.
For his part, the Revolutionary Guard carried an armed group operating in Ahwaz responsibility for the attack, adding that two gunmen were arrested and the third liquidation.
Revolutionary Guards spokesman Ramadan Sharif said that "members of the Ahwazi group shot the people and the armed forces," adding that the group was "backed by Saudi Arabia." And that the implementers received their training in two Gulf states.
A spokesman for the Revolutionary Guards said that the group had previously targeted the summer summer camps, held by the Basij.
Video footage showed the first moments of shooting at the military parade in Ahwaz, southwest Iran.
A video was posted on social media sites, for the moment the armed attack that took place yesterday morning, showed the footage, the photographer kneeling on the ground when the bullets were heard, and the elements of the military forces in the area were also grounded.
In the video I heard voices inviting others to shout so that they would not be hit by bullets. Moments later, the video shows a number of civilians and military men running away from the scene of the attack.
Zarif accuses "agents of a foreign regime" of launching Ahwaz attack
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused them of being "the sponsors of regional terrorists and their American masters" for terrorist attacks after an attack on a military parade in the southern Iranian city of Ahwaz.
"The recruitment, training, arming and financing of terrorists by foreign regimes attacked Ahwaz, and among the victims were children," Zarif said in a tweet. "Iran holds the sponsors of regional terrorists and their American masters responsible for the terrorist attacks."
"Iran will respond firmly and quickly to defend the lives of Iranians," Zarif said.
Putin confirms Moscow's readiness to activate cooperation with Tehran
Russian President Vladimir Putin gave his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rowhani condolences in the victims of an armed attack on a military parade in the city of Ahwaz, southwest of the Islamic Republic.
In a cable sent to Rohani, Putin stressed Moscow's readiness to intensify cooperation with Tehran in the fight against the "evil of terrorism" and expressed his displeasure at the "bloody crime" that killed at least 24 people.
First action by Iran
Iraq announced that Iran would temporarily close the border crossings between Shib and Shalamjah after the terrorist attack on a military parade in Ahwaz, southwest Iran.
Iran conducts air maneuvers in the Gulf
The Revolutionary Guards and the Iranian armed forces carried out joint air maneuvers in the Gulf, a move official media said indicated the "overwhelming response" awaiting the country's enemies.
Tehran has hinted in recent weeks that it might take military action in the Gulf to prevent oil exports from other countries in response to US sanctions aimed at halting its crude sales.
Washington keeps a fleet in the Gulf to protect the oil trade routes.
"In addition to reviewing the force, this exercise is a message of peace and friendship to friendly and neighboring countries," IRNA quoted Col. Yusuf Safi Bor, deputy commander of the army for public relations. "But if the eyes of enemies and arrogant forces look to the borders or the land of the Islamic Republic, they will find an overwhelming response in a blink."
IRNA said the Mirage F-4 and Sukhoi-22 aircraft took part in the exercises on Friday.
A large naval exercise involving some 600 naval vessels is scheduled for Saturday, the agency said.
On the other hand, a senior Iranian cleric said on Friday that the time has come to surrender to Israel, without specifying what it means.
Fars news agency quoted Hassan Abu Turabi as an individual
Friday prayers in Tehran «Netanyahu .. You and your intelligence services know very well that it is time to farewell, and what capabilities possessed by the resistance of Hezbollah and the people of Gaza».
Content and Coordination Team headed by Charles Ayoub