In a statement, the UN body condemned in the strongest terms the cowardly attack that claimed the lives of nearly a hundred people, including children and women, and injured more than 200.

The members of the Security Council expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and wished a full and speedy recovery to the injured.

Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security, said the text issued after the Iranian authorities called for the condemnation of the body dedicated to preserving world peace.

The Council recognized the need to capture the perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts accountable and bring them to justice, and urged all states to cooperate in this effort.

Any act of terrorism is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation, wherever, when and by whomsoever it is committed, the text stressed.

The communiqué reaffirmed the need to combat threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts by all means, in accordance with the UN Charter and other obligations under international law.

On Wednesday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres joined the international condemnation of the attack reported in the city of Kerman, 820 kilometers southeast of Tehran.

In a statement released by his spokesman’s office, the UN official called for the accountability of those responsible for the incident.

The heinous attack coincided with the commemoration of the fourth anniversary of the assassination of General Qasem Soleimani.

The detonations were reported near the Kerman Martyrs’ Cemetery, where thousands of people came to remember the senior officer, commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps.

ef/abo/mem/ebr