Foreign Ministry Condemns Terrorist Attack Outside Iranian Consulate Office

Tehran, Feb 25, IRNA – Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham on Monday strongly condemned terrorist bombing outside Iran consulate office in Peshawar, Pakistan. Afkham referred to expansion of terrorism and violence in the region, especially targeting diplomatic centers, calling for tight cooperation among all states to fight terrorism, violence and extremism and counter religious plots. She said following such a terrorist measure, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a phone call with Iranian Consul-General in Peshaware and got first hand account of the health of the Iranian consulate staff and the damage inflicted on the building, giving necessary guidelines. A suicide bomber, targeting a post of security forces, killed at least two security personnel in the Pakistani city of Peshawar late Monday, police said. A police officer said that nine security men were also injured in the attack in University Town area of Peshawar. Police said the suspected bomber, in a car, was planning to attack some sensitive place in the area however the Frontier Corps officers challenged the man on suspicion who detonated his bomb near the check post. Police said a suspicious vehicle stopped near a security checkpost near the Iranian Consulate General, which exploded later. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Shaukat Yousafzai said that Iranian consulate was the apparent target of the attackers, IRNA reported. The injured were taken to a nearby hospital. No group claimed responsibility. Pakistani Taliban are blamed for such attacks./end