Leader of Islamic Ummah Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei orders swift rescue operations to help quake victims

Leader of Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei ordered all civil and military officials to rush to the aid of the quake-stricken people in west of the country.

Supreme Leader, in a message on Monday, expressed condolences to the Iranian people and families of the victims of the strong 7.3-magnitude earthquake in western Iran which killed at least 320.

The Leader also extended special sympathy to the people of the western Iranian province of Kermanshah, the center of the quake.

Leader of Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Sayyed Ali Khamenei stressed that, ‘The present duty of the officials is to rush to the aid of the quake-hit people, particularly those who have been trapped under the rubble.’

Supreme Leader further urged the Army, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and Basij (Voluntary forces) to speedily help search the trapped and regulate the transfer of the injured.

The 7.3-magnitude earthquake rocked west of Iran and areas in east of Iraq on Sunday night killing at least 320 and injuring over 1,686.

The quake occurred at 21:05 local time (17:35 GMT).