Iran Condemns Ankara Terrorist Attack

Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned a Sunday car bomb blast that killed dozens of people in the Turkish capital, Ankara, saying such recurring terrorist attacks highlight the need for concerted action against extremism.

Voicing Iran’s condemnation of the bloody terrorist attack in the heart of Ankara, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hossein Jaberi Ansari offered condolences to the Turkish government and nation and the bereaved families of the victims.

He said the successive terrorist attacks in different parts of the world and the region show the necessity for immediate and concerted action against terrorism and extremism, which are common threats to the international community.

At least 34 people have been killed and 125 more wounded after a car bomb struck central Ankara on Sunday evening.

The bomb-laden car exploded in the centrally located Kizilay neighborhood, near a major transport hub. Witnesses said the blast set vehicles on fire and heavily damaged several buses.

The explosion, which could be heard several kilometers away, also sent burning debris showering down over an area a few hundred meters from the justice and interior ministries, a top courthouse, and the former office of the prime minister.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility, but Interior Minister Efkan Ala said the name of the group behind the attack would likely be announced on Monday after initial investigations were completed.