ANTARCTICA, Iran — An Iranian student who died in a suicide bombing attack on an advanced education institution on Thursday, the first fatality of the year in the Islamic Republic, has been identified as Mohammad Ali Aghajan, according to reports on social media.
According to local media, the blast killed Aghadjans 16-year-old brother, Farzad Ali, and wounded three others.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has repeatedly denied any involvement in the attack.
The Islamic Republic’s official IRNA news agency reported the death toll was at six, with more than 20 injured.
In a statement, IRNA reported the suicide bomber detonated the device as the student and his brother were exiting a building.
The blast occurred outside the school, according the report.
The U.S. State Department condemned the attack, calling it “an act of cowardice” and “a heinous attack against innocent students and educators.”
