IS claims attack on Iran parliament, major shrine

Bloomberg

IS claimed its first attack on Iran, as suicide bombers and gunmen struck at the heart of the country’s political and religious establishment on Wednesday. Assailants entered the parliament building in Tehran and the shrine of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, to the south of the city. At least two people were killed in the legislature, Tasnim news agency reported, in addition to four militants. Fars news agency reported both incidents were over.
The Sunni extremist group IS claimed both attacks using its Amaq News Agency, saying they were carried out by its fighters and were the group’s first in Iran.
The rare violence in the usually safe capital comes as Iranian security forces and allied militias are involved in offensives against the extremist group and other militant groups in both Syria and Iraq. US-backed Syrian fighters on Tuesday launched an offensive to retake IS self-declared capital of Raqqa, pushing the group further onto the defensive.
Iran’s Interior Ministry will hold an emergency security meeting. Roads leading to parliament in downtown Tehran were closed. Photographs circulated via state media showed security forces stationed outside the building.