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Source: Reuters -
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An explosion at a prominent Shi'ite Muslim mosque in the southeast Iranian city of Zahedan killed 30 people and wounded 60, the semi-official news agency ILNA reported.
The agency said the blast was a suicide bombing but no person or group had claimed responsibility.
Shortly after the explosion, security forces discovered and defused a second bomb near the mosque, the semi-official FARS news agency reported.
The attack was carried out on a public holiday honouring the first Shi'ite Imam, Ali Ebne-Abitaleb, after whom the mosque is named. Zahedan is a mostly Sunni city.
The provincial governor told state television the explosion occurred at about 7:45 pm when many people were inside the mosque for prayers.
Zahedan is the capital of Sistan-Baluchestan province which shares a border with Pakistan. The province faces serious security problems and there are frequent clashes between police and drug dealers and bandits.
A bomb attack in Zahedan in February 2007 which killed 18 Revolutionary Guards was claimed by Jundallah, an insurgent group that says it is fighting for the rights of Iran's Sunni Muslim minority.
The presidents of Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan met in the capital Tehran for their first summit on Sunday, in an effort to improve cooperation in fighting terrorism and drug trafficking and tackling other regional security problems.
Pakistan and Afghanistan are battling to stem the spread of Taliban insurgencies in their countries, and Iran and Pakistan want a stable Afghanistan because the drugs trade has had a dire effect on Iran and past Afghan violence sent millions of refugees across the border.
Iran is also preparing for a presidential election on June 12, in which President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is seeking a second term and faces three challengers.
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