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Both the Islamic State and a separatist armed group, Al Ahwaz, claimed responsibility for Sunday’s terror attack on a military parade in the southwestern Iranian city of Ahvaz that killed 29 people, including the four attackers, and wounded 70 others. The latter has a strong anti-Iranian stance and is supported by foreign forces.

President Hassan Rouhani issued a statement immediately after the attack, vowing that Tehran will not abandon its missiles program even amid the US pressures.

“Iran will not abandon its defensive weapons ... including its missiles that make America so angry,” Rouhani said, according to Reuters.

He also stressed that US President Donald Trump will suffer the same fate as Saddam Hussein if he proceed with his confrontation with Iran, blaming foreign forces, namely the US, for being behind the terror attack.

Speaking to Panorama.am over the topic. Armenian expert on Iran Vardan Voskanyan states though two groups have claimed responsibility for the attacks, Al Ahwaz terrorist group appears to be the one to have carried out the Ahvaz attack.

“It is not the first time this group takes such actions in southern Iran. This network organization, once supported by then Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and currently by forces outside the region, is aimed at shaking Iran inside. As for the US, this country is obviously behind some anti-Iranian coalitions and seeks to establish such a coalition,” he said.

The analyst stressed Al Ahwaz terrorist group has close ties with separatist forces involved in Atropatene issue.

“In fact, we are dealing with a planned anti-Iranian action that may be directed by a major foreign force, such as the United States. Iranians are well aware of the regional situation and have huge information at hand about the separatist groups. In this context, Iran’s statement, I think, is trustworthy. Meantime, the US response after the terror attack is not very clear, whereas the country should have harshly condemned such an action,” he said.