Vietnam strongly condemns the bombings in Kerman, a city in southeastern Iran, on Wednesday, which left hundreds of deaths and injuries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Pham Thu Hang announced on Thursday.

“We would like to extend our deep condolences to the government and people of Iran and the families of the victims, and we believe that those who staged the deadly attacks must be punished appropriately,” the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported, citing Hang.

She was speaking in response to reporters’ questions about Vietnam’s reaction to two deadly explosions in the city of Kerman in southeastern Iran on Wednesday which killed nearly 100 people and wounded dozens more.

The twin blasts, with the second coming 20 minutes after the first, occurred at a ceremony to commemorate Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by a U.S. drone in 2020, Reuters reported, citing Iran's state television.

On Friday, the BBC reported that the Islamic State group took responsibility for the attacks.

The death toll was revised down to 84 from an earlier number of 95 originally reported by the head of Iran's emergency services on Thursday.

Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong on Thursday extended his condolences to his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi over the fatal bombings in Kerman.

Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue did the same to Iranian First Vice President Mohammad Mokhber and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, respectively, on the same day.

Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son has also sent a condolence message to his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Vietnam and Iran have a long-standing friendly relationship that dates back more than 1,000 years to when Persian merchants came to do business and trade in Vietnam, opening the door for cultural exchanges between the two peoples, according to the VNA.   

Since the two countries officially established diplomatic relations in 1973, the bilateral relationship has developed fruitfully in all fields for the sake of the two peoples and for peace, stability, and cooperation in the region and the world. 

On August 4 last year, the Union of Vietnam Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam - Iran Friendship Association coordinated with the Iranian Embassy in Vietnam to hold a ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between two countries.

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