The Latest on attacks in Iran’s parliament building and the mausoleum of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini (all times local):
The United States is condemning what it calls “terrorist attacks” in the Iranian capital of Tehran.
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert says the U.S. is sending thoughts and prayers to the Iranian people following attacks that struck Iran’s parliament and the mausoleum of its modern founder. Nauert says the U.S. is expressing condolences to the victims and their families.
The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for the attack
Nauert says that “the depravity of terrorism has no place in a peaceful, civilized world.”
Iran and the U.S. don’t maintain diplomatic relations and the Trump administration has emphasized the need to counter Iran’s influence.
Despite the U.S. condemnation of the attack, the Senate was considering a possible procedural vote Wednesday afternoon on a new set of Iranian sanctions. Some Democrats are pushing for the vote to be delayed out of consideration for what happened in Tehran.
A top Emirati diplomat has offered his condolences to Iran over Islamic State-claimed attacks on its capital, Tehran.
Emirati Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Anwar Gargash told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the United Arab Emirates rejected and condemned all terrorist acts.
However, Gargash said Gulf nations and Iran’s government remained “poles apart” from each other on political and security matters. He warned: “The Iranian government should not use the attack in a very polarized situation against Saudi Arabia or claim that Saudi Arabia is somehow linked to the attack, because it isn’t.”
He added: “It’s an attack on civilians that is a crime and that should be condemned by all civilized people.”
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard released a statement Wednesday evening indirectly blaming Saudi Arabia for the attacks.
U.N. diplomats say Japan has circulated a draft statement condemning the attacks by Islamic State extremists in Tehran to members of the Security Council.
The diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because the statement has not yet been released, said Japan submitted the draft Wednesday on behalf of Asian and Pacific members and it was being discussed by council members.
The diplomats said the statement includes language on extremist attacks previously agreed upon by the council.
This language reaffirms that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security” and underlines the need to bring the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of an attack to justice.
It also states that “any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed.”
