Damascus: Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei has strongly condemned a terrorist attack near the tomb of Sayyida Zainab (PBUH) in the Syrian capital, Damascus, which led to the martyrdom of the Friday prayer leader there. Baqaei, in a message on Saturday, expressed deep disgust at Friday's crime, including the assassination of Sheikh Farhan Hassan al-Mansour, the Imam of the mosque at the Sayyida Zainab.

According to Islamic Republic News Agency, Baqaei noted that terrorist acts against religious sites and scholars in Syria and elsewhere in West Asia are part of "the evil plot of the Zionist regime and the United States" to incite sedition and division in the region. Baqaei urged relevant Syrian authorities and officials in other countries to be vigilant against such plots and fulfill their responsibilities to decisively confront terrorism and extremism.

While offering condolences to the family of the martyred preacher, the nation, and the community of religious scholars in Syria, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson emphasized the need to identify and punish the perpetrators and backers of this terrorist crime. Baqaei also reminded Syria's transitional government of its responsibility to ensure the security of the people, scholars, and all ethnic and religious groups in this country.

The Syrian News Agency (SANA), citing a source in the Interior Ministry of the interim government, said Sheikh Al-Mansour died of injuries sustained in a grenade explosion after being transferred to a hospital in the Sayyida Zainab area. Earlier, a security source said the area has been surrounded by forces and an investigation is underway to identify and arrest the suspect who threw the grenade.