Iran-Shiraz-Blast
Minister of Information, Gholam- Hossein Mohseni Ejeie, said here Wednesday evening that the suspects of Shiraz bomb blast believed to have links with certain Western countries, including Britain and the US.

Talking to reporters in this southern provincial capital city, he added that the main agent of the Shiraz mosque blast was arrested through police efforts.

Five other suspects had also been arrested in relation to the blast, he said, adding that explosives and cyanide had been confiscated from the suspects.

Thirteen people were killed and more than 190 others wounded in an explosion at Rahpouyan-e Vessal cultural center that is part of Seyyed-ul Shohada mosque in a residential area of Shiraz on April 12.

The powerful explosion took place at around 21:00 local time (1630 GMT) during an evening prayer sermon by a prominent local cleric.

The main agent, was arrested during an attempt to leave the country in one of Iran's northern cities, Mohseni Ejeie added. The agent was armed when arrested, he announced.

Although the Western countries with which the agents had links were informed about the matter by Iran's Foreign Ministry, not only they did not take any measure against them but also they rather supported them, the minister regretted.

The group had plans to carry out similar operations in different places after the Shiraz bombing, he said.