News / Politics / Turkey

Erdogan offers condolences to Rouhani over Iranian’s death in Istanbul blast

Monday, 21 March 2016 8:04 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 21 March 2016 8:06 AM ]

Security and forensic officials work at the site of an explosion in the Turkish city of Istanbul, March 19, 2016. (Photo by AP)

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed condolences to his counterpart Hassan Rouhani over the death of an Iranian national in a recent terror attack in the Turkish city of Istanbul.

"I have been sorrowed by the fact that one Iranian lost his life and three Iranians were wounded” in Saturday’s bomb explosion in Istanbul, Erdogan said in a Sunday message to Rouhani, Turkish media reported.

Iranian national Ali Reza Razmkhah was killed in the blast, while his wife A’zam Razmkhah, and his daughter, Diana, were wounded along with an elderly Iranian woman named Zhila Shariat Alaei.

“I wish God’s mercy on your deceased citizen who lost his life during this abominable attack and offer my sincerest condolences on behalf of my nation and myself to friendly Iranian nation, and primarily to his family and relatives; I wish the injured a speedy recovery,” Erdogan added.

He also said that the raid once again indicated that the international community has to be united in the fight against terrorism.

The Turkish president further stressed that Ankara is ready to cooperate with Tehran in the battle against terrorism.

The Saturday bomb attack in a busy shopping street in Istanbul killed five people, including the assailant. At least 39 others, including 24 foreigners, sustained injuries in the blast.

The attacker behind the bombing has been identified as an affiliate of the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group, according to Turkish Interior Minister Efkan Ala.

Turkey has been hit by a number of bombings in recent months, mostly blamed on Daesh or members of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) militant group.

Ankara is itself suspected of actively training and arming Takfiri militants operating inside Syria and buying smuggled oil from them.

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