Iran hangs three in Baluchistan mosque blast

Submitted by WW4 Report on Sat, 05/30/2009 - 14:53

Three men convicted of involvement in a May 28 bomb attack that killed 25 and injured over 100 at the Amir al-Momenin mosque in Iran's eastern city of Zahedan, Sistan-Baluchistan province, were hanged May 30. The Jundallah militant group claimed responsibility for the blast, with a spokesman confirming the attack to Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya TV. Iranian officials say the attack aimed at provoking disorder before the presidential elections. US State Department Spokesman Ian Kelly denounced the attack and rejected the notion that the White House had a hand in it. (Press TV, Iran, May 30)

The day after the blast, gunmen attacked an office of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's re-election campaign in Zahedan, injuring a child and two others. The assailants reportedly shouted curses against Ahmadinejad and tore down his photographs before firing their weapons. Some of the assailants were reported arrested. (Bloomberg, May 29)

See our last posts on Iran and the struggle for Baluchistan.

Bomb defused on Iranian plane

Submitted by Bill Weinberg on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 00:43

Security personnel defused a homemade bomb found on an aircraft during a domestic flight in Iran late May 30. The device was defused after the Tehran-bound Kish Air aircraft with 131 passengers on board made an emergency landing in the southwestern city of Ahvaz. The incident comes less than two weeks before the Islamic Republic holds a presidential election in which the conservative incumbent, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, faces a challenge from reformers. (Reuters, May 31)

Starting to smell like a coordinated campaign alright. But by the CIA, or Ahmadinejad's supporters seeking to create a panic that will cause those fearing CIA subversion to rally around him? Or even just by disaffected elements acting independently? (It's possible.)

Looks like Ahmadinejad's folks were behind it

Submitted by Bill Weinberg on Tue, 06/02/2009 - 18:49

Or is this CIA disinformation? From the New York Times, June 1:

Bomb Said to Be on Flight Almost Taken by Former Iranian President
TEHRAN — Former President Mohammad Khatami was expected to fly on a domestic flight on Saturday night that was found to have a homemade bomb aboard, an Iranian newspaper reported Monday.

The daily newspaper Sarmayeh said Mr. Khatami had been scheduled to fly on the Kish Air flight to Tehran from the southwestern city of Ahwaz on Saturday evening, but that he had taken another flight instead. It was unclear why he had changed his plans.

Mr. Khatami has been traveling and campaigning in support of Mir Hussein Moussavi, a moderate politician and the most serious challenger to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ahead of June 12 elections.