UN condemns terrorist attack in Iranian city of Shiraz

By Firdevs Bulut Kartal

TORONTO (AA) - The UN Security Council on Wednesday denounced a shooting earlier this month at a Shiite Muslim shrine in Iran.

Council president Linda Thomas-Greenfield issued a statement saying its members condemned "in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack on innocent people and pilgrims at the Shah-e-Cheragh shrine in (the southern city of) Shiraz."

The Aug. 13 attack, during which two gunmen opened fire indiscriminately at the entrance of the shrine, left at least two dead and eight injured.

The attack was later claimed by Daesh/ISIS.

UN Security Council members expressed their sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and the government of Iran, wishing a full recovery to the wounded.

The members of the Security Council "reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security."

The perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these heinous attacks should be brought to justice, the Security Council said, urging all countries to fulfil their obligations under international law and to cooperate with the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran in this regard.

The members of the Security Council said that all acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, reaffirming the need for all states to combat threats to international peace in accordance with the UN Charter.