Tehran                                                                                                                                                                                                    22 Sept 2018                                                                                                                                                                                       (Anadolu/IRNA)

25 people killed including a journalist Yunus Purhulu and 60 injured on Saturday in an attack at a military march in the southwestern Iranian city of Ahwaz.  Those killed include Iranian Revolutionary Guards. A woman and a child were among the injured, according to an earlier report by IRNA.

Iranian local media reported that gunmen wearing military uniforms fired at the Iranian forces during a military parade, an attack that lasted for about 10 minutes.

Brig. Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, Official Spokesperson of Iranian Forces announced that “three terrorists were killed” on the spot over the attack, while a fourth one who has been wounded “died in hospital”, IRNA reported.

“Terrorists recruited, trained, armed & paid by a foreign regime have attacked Ahvaz. Children and journos among casualties. Iran holds regional terror sponsors and their US masters accountable for such attacks. Iran will respond swiftly and decisively in defense of Iranian lives,” tweeted Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif.

According to the Iranian Students’ News Agency (ISNA), Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) spokesman Ramezan Sharif said “The attack by some elements of al-Ahvaziya group which is fed by Saudi Arabia, aimed to overshadow the magnificence of the parade by the Iranian armed forces.”

However, the self-proclaimed Daesh terrorist organization claimed through its electronic website “Amaq”.latter Saturday its responsibility for the attack

Through the Amaq website, Daesh claimed that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani was attending the targeted military parade.

The website, however, has not published any footage or video for the attack.

Iranian authorities “temporarily” shut down two border crossings with Iraq, according to an Iraqi customs official who spoke to Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity.

The two border crossings in question are that Shalamjah (adjacent to Iraq’s Basra governorate) and Al-Shib (adjacent to Iraq’s Maysan governorate).

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said on Saturday that sponsors and propagators of terror and hostility and their devoted interpreters cannot cover up their direct involvement in backing anti-Iran terrorists through false rhetoric and baseless sophism.