Khamenei says Iran will punish attackers

TEHRAN (Reuters/AFP) - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Monday Iran would punish those behind an attack on the Revolutionary Guards and suggested Western involvement in the incident.
The mercenaries of the global arrogance should know that the Islamic system will strongly protect the region and defend its loyal people and will punish those who violate their lives and security, ISNA news agency quoted him as saying.
In his first public comment on the attack, Khamenei said the enemies should know that they cannot harm the unity and solidarity (among Iranians) ... by such a criminal act, ISNA reported.
Meanwhile, Ayatollah Ali Khameini on Monday pointed a finger of blame at the United States for a devastating suicide bombing, ISNA news agency reported.
This terrorists crime revealed the evil face of enemies of security and unity who are supported by intelligence organisations of some arrogant governments, he said, using the Islamic republics term for the United States.
Meanwhile, Britain denied in the strongest terms allegations that it aided rebels behind a bomb attack on Irans elite Revolutionary Guards, the Foreign Office (FCO) said Monday.
An FCO spokeswoman added that Britain condemns the bombing as a terrorist attack, adding: Terrorism is abhorrent wherever it occurs.
We reject in the strongest terms any assertion that this attack has anything to do with Britain, she told AFP, commenting on Sundays suicide attack.
Prime Minister Gordon Browns spokesman added: It is extremely important that we continue with the diplomatic track with Iran, pointing notably to talks in Vienna hosted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The Foreign Office spokeswoman added that Britain condemns the terrorist attack in the Province of Sistan and Balochistan in Iran and the sad loss of life which it caused.
Our sympathies go to those who have been killed or injured in the attack and their families, she added.
Meanwhile, President Dmitry Medvedev has said, in a letter of condolence to his Iranian counterpart Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that Russia is ready to help Iran fight terrorism.
The fight against the threat of terrorism and the extremism wherever it comes from requires all countries to join their forces, Medvedev said.
We are ready to cooperate with the Islamic Republic of Iran to counter these threats, he added.
Medvedev said he had learned of the attack with indignation and condemned this new evildoing by extremists. Russia has itself seen a spate of militant attacks this summer in the predominantly Muslim North Caucasus, where the Russian government has been long struggling to put down a low-level insurgency.
Moscow has the strongest ties to Iran of any major world power and is seen as a crucial player on the international standoff over its nuclear programme.