Ayatollah Khamenei the Leader of the Islamic Revolution issued a message of condolence on the occasion of the tragic terrorist event which led to the martyrdom of the innocent pilgrims to the holy shrines in Iraq. The full text of the message is as follows:
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
The tragic terrorist attack which led to the martyrdom of the innocent pilgrims to the holy shrines in Iraq filled with grief the hearts of those who seek prosperity and salvation in following the path of the Holy Prophet (s.w.a.) and his household - those whose hearts are brimful of love for the Prophet's household. The disgraceful people who committed this appalling crime and who have the blood of these innocent pilgrims on their hands should know that they chose the satisfaction of devils over that of God's saints. They should know that they are engulfed in the flames of God's wrath. "And truly hell encompasses the disbelievers" [The Holy Quran, 9: 49].
The filthy hands and wicked minds which have spread such blind and uncontrollable terrorism in Iraq should know that they will also be engulfed in these flames, and their evil intentions will rebound on themselves, as was the case in some other Islamic countries.
The main suspects in this crime and similar other crimes are the American security forces who have occupied an Islamic country under the pretext of fighting terrorism in a tyrannical manner. They have massacred thousands of people, and have constantly increased insecurity in that country. The growth of the poisonous weeds of terrorism in Iraq will undoubtedly be put on America's criminal record and the American and Israeli intelligence services are the main suspects.
We expect the Iraqi government to seriously oppose such crimes and to provide maximum security for the pilgrims to the holy shrines in Iraq.
Those who were killed in this event are the martyrs of Imam Hussein's path and will hopefully be rewarded by Allah the Exalted. However, the hearts of their families are brimful of grief. I hereby extend my condolences to all those who were bereaved by this event, especially to the families of the martyrs. I pray to Allah the Exalted to aid the recovery of those who were injured in the event.