12 Die, many injured in IS attacks on Iran

Twin attacks on the Iranian Parliament and Ayatollah Khomeini's mausoleum in the capital, Tehran, have killed at least 12 people and injured many more. After hours of intermittent gunfire, officials said both incidents were over and the attackers were dead.

The Islamic State (IS) group had said it carried out the attacks, which would be a first in Iran the BBC has reported. Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guards accused Saudi Arabia and the US of being behind the attacks.

"This terrorist action, coming one week after the meeting of the President of the United States with the leader of the one of the region's reactionary governments (Saudi Arabia)... shows they are involved in this savage action," it said in a statement.

The US state department condemned the attack, saying "the depravity of terrorism has no place in a peaceful civilised world".

President Hassan Rouhani said Iran's message was that "terrorism is a global problem", and he called for "regional and international co-operation and unity".
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the attacks would have "no effect" on the country.

In a statement, IS warned of further attacks against Iran's Shia Muslim majority.

Gunmen armed with Kalashnikovs entered Parliament yesterday morning. Images from the scene showed a major security operation as forces surrounded the building.

TEHRAN (IRAN)