Kathmandu – At least nine people were killed and 33 others injured in a deadly attack early Tuesday morning in Astaneyeh-ye Ashrafiyeh, a city in Iran’s northern Gilan province, according to local Iranian authorities. Four homes were reportedly destroyed in the blast, which officials have labeled a “terrorist attack.”
The governor’s office in Gilan confirmed the casualty figures and stated that the victims included women and children. The province’s deputy governor reported that 16 of the dead or injured were women or minors, highlighting the devastating civilian toll.
While no official claim of responsibility has been made, Iranian media has pointed to Israel as being behind the attack. Several outlets referenced intelligence suggesting Israeli involvement, adding to escalating tensions between the two countries.
Notably, Mohammad Reza Siddiqui, a senior Iranian nuclear scientist, was reportedly among those killed. Unconfirmed media reports and statements attributed to the Israeli military suggest that Siddiqui may have been deliberately targeted, as Israel allegedly confirmed the death of “a senior nuclear figure” in a nighttime operation.
The attack has further heightened the volatile situation in the region, already strained by ongoing military confrontations between Iran, Israel, and the United States. Iran is expected to respond strongly, with analysts warning of possible further escalation in the coming days.
