TEHRAN, July 19 (UPI) -- After Iran was blamed for a Bulgarian terrorist attack, a government spokesman said Tehran condemns such acts in the strongest possible terms.
At least seven tourists, including Israeli citizens, were killed Wednesday in a suicide bombing of a tour bus in Burgas, Bulgaria. The Israeli government accused Iran and Shiite movement Hezbollah of carrying out the attack, allegedly conducted by a man carrying a false U.S. identification card.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted by Iran's Press TV as saying Tehran condemned any act "that endangers the lives of innocent people in order to fulfill illegitimate political objectives."
The attack coincided with the sixth anniversary of the Israeli conflict with Hezbollah.
U.S. President Barack Obama, in a message to the Israeli government, said Washington was an "unshakeable" ally of Israel and pledged to provide" whatever assistance is necessary" for justice.
"Exactly 18 years to the day after the horrendous attack on the Jewish Community Center in Argentina, deadly Iranian terrorism continues to strike at innocent people," said Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu in a statement. "This is a global Iranian terror onslaught and Israel will react firmly to it."
More than 300 people were injured and 85 people, many of whom were Jewish, died in the 1994 bombing in Buenos Aires.
