Flames rise from the site of a blast in Bir Hassan neighbourhood in the southern Beirut on November 19, 2013. PHOTO: AFP
The bombings were "an inhuman crime and spiteful act done by Zionists and their mercenaries," foreign ministry spokesperson Marzieh Afkham said in remarks carried by the official IRNA news agency.
Israel is Iran's main regional arch-foe whose existence Tehran does not recognise. The two do not see eye to eye over a number of issues, including Iran's disputed nuclear drive.
There were conflicting reports about Iranian casualties at the embassy.
In her statement to IRNA, Afkham also said Iran's cultural attache Ibrahim Ansari, a mid-ranking Shia cleric, was killed in the bombings.
But speaking to state television later, she said Ansari is actually alive and showing "signs of life" despite being "critically wounded."
Iran's ambassador to Beirut, Ghazanfar Rokn-Abadi, gave a similar account.
He told state television that Ansari was in surgery in a Beirut hospital, while expressing hope that he would soon "regain full health".
The envoy had earlier said that all staff "inside the embassy" were unhurt in the attack.
In Tehran, state television and the Mehr and Fars news agencies said the Iranian killed in the blasts was a security guard who had been manning the embassy's gate.
The powerful explosions just opposite the multi-storey embassy in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital killed at least 23 people, wounded almost 150 others and caused widespread damage.
They follow two other bomb attacks this year in the southern suburbs of Beirut that are the bastion of the powerful Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah.
The group, which is sponsored by Iran, has drawn controversy for sending thousands of fighters into neighbouring Syria to support the regime of President Bashar al-Assad as he battles a 32-month-old uprising.
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1730884134-0/BeFunky-collage-(26)1730884134-0-270x192.webp "trump plans sweeping tariffs on mexico canada china sparking trade war fears")
There's no difference between Saudis and Zionists they have the same goal.
To iran. You have to see the world the way it is and not the way you wish to. Sorry you are way off the mark here.
On Twitter, a radical Sunni group claimed responsibility for the attacks, saying similar assaults would continue until the Iran-supported Shiite group Hezbollah stops sending fighters to help Syrian government forces. Suicide-bombers can't be Israelis.Never!!
I suppose it doesn't matter that an Al Qaeda affiliated terrorist group has taken credit - and when has Israel used suicide bombers? Never let facts or common sense get in the way of a good bias/grudge. . http://edition.cnn.com/2013/11/19/world/meast/lebanon-beirut-explosion/index.html?hpt=hp_t1
"Israel is Iran’s main regional arch-foe whose existence Tehran does not recognise."
Wrong. Saudi Arabia is Iran's main regional foe... and this bombing was probably the work of the same people who are fighting Iran supported Bashar Assad in Syria... Dragging Israel into this is a bit disingenuous...
Wonder why is Israel named for all the wrong doings. I only see a jealousy out of nothing for Israel.