Iran summons Pakistani envoy over IRGC attack

TEHRAN

The Iranian Foreign Ministry on Sunday summoned the Pakistani ambassador in Tehran over Wednesday's suicide attack that killed 27 troops in southeastern Iran.

Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasimi said the envoy was informed with Tehran's official protest over the attack, the semi-official Tasnim news agency said, without giving further details.

At least 27 members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards were killed on Wednesday when a bomb-laden vehicle targeted a bus carrying IRGC personnel in the Sistan-Baluchestan province of Iran.

The attack was claimed by Jaish al Adal (Army of Justice) group, which says it seeks greater rights and better living conditions for the ethnic minority Baluchis.

On Saturday, the IRGC accused Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of supporting the attack.

Islamabad, for its part, condemned the bombing "in the strongest terms."

"Shocked and grieved to hear about the suicide attack on IRGC bus near Zahidan, in which many lives were lost. Deepest sympathies with the families of those who have suffered in this heinous attack of terror," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal said on Twitter.