Following a deadly attack on a military parade in southern Iran, the country’s foreign minister said that regional sponsors of terrorism and their “US masters” are to be held accountable for such assaults.

Top Iranian diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif vowed to respond “swiftly and decisively” after gunmen opened fire in Ahvaz on Saturday leading to multiple casualties. The minister claimed that the terrorists were sponsored and trained by “a foreign regime.”

Iran holds regional terror sponsors and their US masters accountable for such attacks.

Terrorists recruited, trained, armed & paid by a foreign regime have attacked Ahvaz. Children and journos among casualties. Iran holds regional terror sponsors and their US masters accountable for such attacks. Iran will respond swiftly and decisively in defense of Iranian lives. pic.twitter.com/WG1J1wgVD9 — Javad Zarif (@JZarif) September 22, 2018

The carnage has claimed the lives of up to 25 people, Iran’s state-run Irna news agency says, adding that some 60 people were wounded.

An Iranian military spokesman, brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi, later added echoed Zarif's view, noting that the terrorists might also be trained by Israeli intelligence.

“They are not from Daesh [Islamic State, IS, formerly ISIS] or other groups fighting [Iran's] Islamic system ... but they are linked to America and [Israel's spy agency] Mossad,” Shekarchi claimed as cited by Reuters. He presented no details, however, to back the claim.

READ MORE: WATCH moment Iranian Army parade is attacked by gunmen

On Saturday, Iran was holding parades in several cities, including the capital Tehran, commemorating the end of the eight-year Iran-Iraq conflict which dates back to the 1980s.

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