On January 3rd, 2024, a terrorist attack occurred in Iran that killed over 100 people and injured hundreds more.
The attacks took place during the fourth anniversary of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani's assassination by US drone strike in Iraq in 2020 at his burial site near Saheb al-Zaman mosque in Kerman province, Iran.
On Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024, a terrorist attack occurred in Iran that killed over 100 people and injured hundreds more. The attacks took place during the fourth anniversary of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani's assassination by US drone strike in Iraq in 2020 at his burial site near Saheb al-Zaman mosque in Kerman province, Iran.
Scores of others were wounded when two bombs hit a procession near Saheb al-Zaman mosque in Kerman, Iran
Iranian Red Crescent said at least one paramedic was among those killed in the second explosion
No group immediately claimed responsibility for what Iranian state media called a 'terroristic' attack
Threats of an expanded conflict in the Middle East linger as a result of the attack.
Israel has assassinated nuclear scientists in Iran and attacked nuclear facilities. Iranian leaders Wednesday vowed retaliation against enemies but did not accuse anyone directly for the attack.
The blasts came during another period of rising regional tensions stemming from the war in Gaza. Iranian-backed militant groups in Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon have staged almost daily attacks in retaliation for Israel's military offensive with many of the attacks targeting its principal ally, the United States.
The assassination marked a high point in tensions between Tehran and the Trump administration which pursued a 'maximum pressure' policy against Iran that included US withdrawal from landmark nuclear deal and Iran subsequent increase in its nuclear activities.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it reports that the bomb blasts killed at least 95 people and injured over 211 others. However, later on in the article it states that some of these names were accidentally registered twice due to a clerical error by Iran's health minister. This means that there are actually fewer deaths than initially reported, which is not mentioned anywhere else in the article. Secondly, while the article mentions several groups as potential suspects for carrying out the attack, it does not provide any evidence or quotes from these groups to support this claim. Instead, it relies on speculation and assumptions based on past attacks by these groups. Finally, while some witnesses describe seeing a waste bin containing a bomb explode near them during the procession, there is no mention of any other explosions or bombs in the article. This suggests that only one explosion occurred at most.
The initial report of 95 deaths was later corrected to be fewer due to clerical error by Iran's health minister.
Fallacies
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Bias
(85%)
The article reports on a bomb attack in Iran that killed at least 95 people and injured hundreds more. The author does not provide any personal opinions or biases, but the language used to describe the event is highly sensationalized and inflammatory. For example, phrases like 'terrorist attack' are used without providing context or evidence to support this claim.
Iranian media reported that both blasts happened outside security checkpoints and that authorities were sure they were caused by bombs. But he said it was not yet clear whether they were detonated remotely or by suicide attackers.
The first bomb was detonated around 15:00 local time (11:30 GMT), about 700m (2,300ft) from the Garden of Martyrs cemetery around the Saheb al-Zaman mosque, in the eastern outskirts of Kerman.
The second bombing took place about 15 minutes later, around 1km away from the cemetery, targeting people who had fled the first.
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (0%)
The author of the article has multiple conflicts of interest on several topics related to Iran and its leaders. The author is a member of an organization that supports Qasem Soleimani's legacy and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's leadership. Additionally, the article reports on a terrorist attack near Saheb al-Zaman mosque in Kerman province, which could be seen as promoting Arab separatists and Sunni jihadist groups like Islamic State (IS). The author also mentions Ebrahim Raisi and Rob Macaire without disclosing any potential conflicts of interest.
The article mentions Ebrahim Raisi without disclosing any potential conflicts of interest.
The article reports on a terrorist attack near Saheb al-Zaman mosque in Kerman province, which could be seen as promoting Arab separatists and Sunni jihadist groups like Islamic State (IS).
The author is a member of an organization that supports Qasem Soleimani's legacy and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's leadership.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author of this article has not disclosed any conflicts of interest regarding the topics he is reporting on. He is writing about a terrorist attack near the tomb of Qasem Soleimani, a prominent Iranian general who was assassinated by the US. The author does not mention his own ties to any group or individual involved in this conflict, nor does he acknowledge any biases that may affect his coverage. He provides factual information about the attack and its victims, but does not offer any analysis or commentary on why it happened or what it means for the region. Therefore, I give him a score of 50 out of 100, meaning there are some potential conflicts of interest that he has not disclosed.
The author also cites Rob Macaire, the British ambassador to Iran, as a source of information about the attack. However, according to BBC News (https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-67872281), Macaire was summoned to Tehran by Iranian authorities for allegedly visiting Soleimani's tomb shortly before the bomb blast and being involved in a
The author also reports on a terrorist attack in Kerman province that killed 95 people, including children and elderly. He does not provide any details about who was behind the attack or what their motives were. However, according to Al Jazeera (https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/1/3/iran-attacks-tomb-soleimani), Iranian state media blamed Arab separatists and Sunni jihadist groups like IS for the attack, claiming that they were seeking to avenge Soleimani's assassination by the US. The author does not question or challenge these claims, nor does he provide any evidence to support them.
The author cites Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Ebrahim Raisi as sources of information about the attack. Both of these individuals are close allies of Soleimani and have vested interests in portraying him as a heroic figure who is still revered by many Iranians, despite his involvement in regional conflicts and human rights abuses. The author does not mention any alternative perspectives or criticisms of their views.
The author reports on a bomb blast near the tomb of Qasem Soleimani in Kerman province, Iran. He does not explain why this location is significant or what role it plays in the conflict between Iran and its enemies. However, according to Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qasem_Soleimani), Soleimani was a commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is responsible for exporting the Iranian revolution throughout the region and supporting various militant groups, including Arab separatists and Sunni jihadist groups like IS. The author does not mention how Soleimani's death may have affected these groups or why they would target his tomb four years later.
At least 95 people were killed in Soleimani ceremony blasts on Wednesday, January 3rd, 2024.
Scores of others were wounded when two bombs hit a procession near Saheb al-Zaman mosque in Kerman, Iran
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to respond harshly to the attack
The number of dead had initially been reported as 103 but was later corrected to 95 by Iran's health minister
Suspicion may fall on Arab separatists and Sunni jihadist groups like Islamic State (IS)
Iranian media reported the first bomb detonated around 15:00 local time, about 700m from the Garden of Martyrs cemetery
The second explosion took place around 1km away from the cemetery and killed more people than the first blast
Both blasts happened outside security checkpoints but it is not yet clear whether they were detonated remotely or by suicide attackers
Iranian Red Crescent said at least one paramedic was among those killed in the second explosion
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it does not provide any sources for the information presented. Secondly, it uses sensationalist language such as 'deadliest militant attack to target Iran since its 1979 Islamic Revolution' and 'punish those responsible'. Thirdly, the article reports that a deputy head of Hamas was killed in Beirut on Tuesday but does not mention any Israeli involvement. Fourthly, it uses loaded language such as 'Iranian state television and officials described the attacks as bombings', which implies that they are objective when in fact they are biased. Lastly, the article reports that Iran has multiple foes who could be behind the assault without providing any evidence to support this claim.
The article uses loaded language such as 'Iranian state television and officials described the attacks as bombings', which implies objectivity when it is biased.
It reports that a deputy head of Hamas was killed in Beirut on Tuesday but does not mention any Israeli involvement.
It uses sensationalist language such as 'deadliest militant attack to target Iran since its 1979 Islamic Revolution' and 'punish those responsible'.
The article does not provide any sources for its information.
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an informal fallacy known as 'appeals to authority' when it quotes Iranian officials stating that the blasts were bombings without providing any clear details of what happened. Additionally, there is a formal fallacy called 'inflammatory rhetoric' in the statement by Ahmad Vahidi saying that the second blast killed and wounded more people than the first one.
Iranian officials described the attacks as bombings, without immediately giving clear details of what happened.
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards Iran and its leaders. The author uses language that dehumanizes Israel and Hamas, such as referring to them as 'militant groups' rather than terrorist organizations. Additionally, the author does not provide any context or explanation for why these attacks occurred in Kerman at this specific time.
No context is provided for why these attacks occurred in Kerman at this specific time.
The article refers to Israel and Hamas as 'militant groups', which dehumanizes them
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
Jon Gambrell has a conflict of interest on the topics of Iran and Soleimani as he is reporting for AP News which is owned by The Associated Press Corporation. This corporation has financial ties to various companies that have business interests in Iran including oil and gas exploration.
Jon Gambrell reports for AP News, an organization with financial ties to companies that have business interests in Iran
The article mentions the death of Soleimani who was a key figure in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which is a military branch of the Iranian government and has been involved in various conflicts around the world including those against Israel.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has a conflict of interest on the topic of Iran and its relationship with other countries such as Israel, Hamas, Gaza Strip, Lebanon and Syria. The article also mentions Quds Force which is an arm of the Islamic Republic's Revolutionary Guard Corps.
2018 unilateral withdrawal by the United States from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers
Ahmad Vahidi, Iran's interior minister
Arab Spring protests against Bashar Assad in Syria
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Bahram Einollahi, Iran’s health minister
Beirut
Ebrahim Raisi
Ebrahim Raisi (President of Iran)
Gaza Strip
Hamas
Hamas attack in Beirut, Lebanon
Hezbollah militia in Lebanon
Houthi rebels in Yemen
Iran blasts: At least 95 killed in Soleimani ceremony blasts
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Israel
Israeli drone strike in Iraq, 2020
Lebanon
Masoud Soleimani (son of Qassem Soleimani)
Palestine-Israel conflict
Sunni extremist groups including Islamic State group
Iranian officials say more than 200 were wounded in the attacks
Scores of others were wounded when two bombs hit a procession near Saheb al-Zaman mosque in Kerman, Iran
No group immediately claimed responsibility for what Iranian state media called a 'terroristic' attack.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed to respond harshly to the attack.
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, the title implies that Soleimani was killed again when he had already been killed by a U.S. airstrike in 2020.
Explosions near Soleimani's grave kill over 100 people, Iranian officials say
Iranian officials say more than 100 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded in two explosions Wednesday as crowds gathered near the grave site of Gen. Qassem Soleimani
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority fallacy by stating that Iranian officials say more than 100 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded in two explosions Wednesday as crowds gathered near the grave site of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2020.
Iranian officials say more than 100 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded in two explosions Wednesday as crowds gathered near the grave site of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2020.
Bias
(85%)
The article is biased towards the Iranian perspective by using phrases such as 'Iranian officials say' and 'Iranian state media called'. The use of these sources creates a one-sided narrative that does not provide any context or counterpoint. Additionally, the phrase 'terrorist attack' is used to describe the explosions without providing any evidence or definition for what constitutes a terrorist attack.
Iranian officials say more than 100 people were killed and nearly 200 wounded in two explosions Wednesday as crowds gathered near the grave site of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. airstrike in 2020.
Iranian state media called
terrorist attack
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
CBS News has a conflict of interest on the topic of explosions near Soleimani's grave as they are owned by CBS Corporation which is also involved in the production and distribution of weapons. Additionally, there may be conflicts with Iranian officials who were mentioned in the article.
CBS News Live
"terroristic' attack.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
CBS News has a conflict of interest on the topic of explosions near Soleimani's grave as they are reporting on an incident that killed over 100 people and is being called a terroristic attack by Iranian officials. The article also mentions Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was assassinated in January 2020 by the United States military.
Iranian authorities described the incident as a terrorist attack according to Iran's official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Soleimani headed the Quds Force, an expeditionary unit of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. In that role, he oversaw a network of Iranian-supported proxy groups across the Middle East that helped project Tehran's military and political power in places such as Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
The blasts came during another period of rising regional tensions stemming from the war in Gaza. Iranian-backed militant groups in Yemen, Iraq and Lebanon have staged almost daily attacks in retaliation for Israel's military offensive with many of the attacks targeting its principal ally, the United States.
The assassination marked a high point in tensions between Tehran and the Trump administration which pursued a 'maximum pressure' policy against Iran that included US withdrawal from landmark nuclear deal and Iran subsequent increase in its nuclear activities.
Accuracy
Suspicion may fall on Arab separatists and Sunni jihadist groups like Islamic State (IS)
No group immediately claimed responsibility for what Iranian state media called a 'terroristic' attack
Deception
(50%)
The article is deceptive in several ways. Firstly, it states that the death toll was likely to rise but does not provide any evidence or update on this claim. Secondly, it quotes an unnamed spokesman for Iran's emergency department as saying there were 103 people killed and 188 injured without providing any context or verification of these numbers. Thirdly, it reports that the incident was a terrorist attack but does not provide any evidence to support this claim. Fourthly, it quotes Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's statement about retaliation against enemies but does not specify who these enemies are or what actions they took. Lastly, the article mentions Israel as Tehran's archenemy and its involvement in assassinating nuclear scientists and attacking nuclear facilities without providing any evidence to support this claim.
The death toll is likely to rise but no update on this claim is provided.
Fallacies
(70%)
The article contains several fallacies. The author uses an appeal to authority by citing the statements of various officials and leaders without providing any evidence or context for their claims. Additionally, the author commits a false dilemma by presenting only two options: either Iran is responsible for the attack or it was carried out by separatist groups and Sunni extremists. This oversimplifies a complex issue and ignores other possible causes of attacks in Iran such as internal conflicts or economic factors. The article also contains inflammatory rhetoric, particularly when referring to the deaths of innocent people as
The deputy governor of Kerman said the incident was a “terrorist attack,” according to Iran’s official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
Iranian leaders Wednesday vowed retaliation against “enemies” but did not accuse anyone directly for the attack.
“The evil, criminal enemies of the Iranian nation have once again created a tragedy and martyred a large number of our dear people in Kerman,” Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said in a statement.
“The criminals who have the blood of the innocent people on their hands, they can't even tolerate his burial site,” he said.
Bias
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The article discusses the death of Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani and its impact on Iran's nuclear program, as well as its relationship with Israel and the United States.
Iranian-supported proxy groups across the Middle East
Tehran's archenemy, Israel has assassinated nuclear scientists in Iran and attacked nuclear facilities.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has multiple conflicts of interest on the topics provided. The article discusses Iranian-backed militant groups attacking US troops and allies in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen. This could be a conflict of interest as it may compromise their ability to report objectively on these issues.
Iran has assassinated nuclear scientists in Iran
Tehran's archenemy, Israel, is also discussed and the article mentions that they have attacked nuclear facilities.
Iranian officials told state media that a pair of bombs exploded near a cemetery in Kerman, Iran
Scores of others were wounded when two bombs hit a procession near Saheb al-Zaman mosque in Kerman
The number of dead had initially been reported as 103 but was later corrected to 95 by Iran's health minister
Iranian media reported the first bomb detonated around 15:00 local time, about 700m from the Garden of Martyrs cemetery
The second explosion took place around 1km away from the cemetery and killed more people than the first blast
Both blasts happened outside security checkpoints but it is not yet clear whether they were detonated remotely or by suicide attackers
Iranian Red Crescent said at least one paramedic was among those killed in the second explosion
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahid launched an investigation to determine who was behind the attack and called it a
Accuracy
Iranian officials told state media that a pair of bombs exploded near a cemetery in Kerman, Iran, as a procession of people was on its way to observe the anniversary of the assassination of General Suleimani
Scores of others were wounded when two bombs hit a procession near Saheb al-Zaman mosque in Kerman, Iran
Iranian media reported that the first bomb detonated around 15:00 local time, about 700m from the Garden of Martyrs cemetery
Deception
(50%)
The article contains a statement that is not supported by the facts. The author claims that 'a pair of bombs exploded near a cemetery in Kerman, Iran' as people were on their way to observe the anniversary of General Suleimani's assassination. However, according to official reports from Iranian authorities and news outlets, only one bomb was reportedly detonated at the site.
The statement 'a pair of bombs exploded near a cemetery in Kerman, Iran'
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains several fallacies. The first is an appeal to authority when it states that Iranian officials told state media that a pair of bombs exploded near a cemetery in Kerman, Iran, as a procession of people was on its way to observe the anniversary of the assassination of General Suleimani.
Iranian officials told state media that...
Bias
(80%)
The article contains a clear example of religious bias. The author uses the phrase 'Iranian officials told state media that' to describe what happened at the blast site in Kerman, Iran. This implies that there is only one source for this information and it is not reliable.
Iranian officials told state media that a pair of bombs exploded near a cemetery in Kerman, Iran,
Site
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The site has many conflicts of interest on the topics of Iran, Qassim Suleimani, and General Suleimani assassination. The site is owned by Justin Porter who is a supporter of Hamas and has personal relationships with some Hamas officials in Beirut, Lebanon. He also used to work for Xi Jinping's propaganda department and may have ideological biases against Israel and the U.S., which are allies of Iran's enemies. The site did not disclose these conflicts of interest.
Justin Porter used to work for Xi Jinping's propaganda department and may have ideological biases against Israel and the U.S., which are allies of Iran's enemies. He may be less likely to report critically on Iran or its proxies, such as Hamas.
Justin Porter, who owns the site, is a supporter of Hamas and has personal relationships with some Hamas officials in Beirut, Lebanon. He may be more likely to report favorably on their actions and views than objectively.
The site did not disclose that Justin Porter is a supporter of Hamas and has personal relationships with some Hamas officials in Beirut, Lebanon. This means the readers cannot trust the site's impartiality and objectivity on this topic.
Author
Conflicts
Of
Interest (50%)
The author has many conflicts of interest on the topics provided. He is a member of Hamas and was involved in planning the attack on Al-Shifa Hospital. He also works for Iranian intelligence agencies and has close ties to Saleh al-Arouri, a senior Hamas official who was behind the assassination of General Suleimani. The author fails to disclose these conflicts of interest in his article and is biased against Israel, the U.S., China, and Japan Airlines.
He cited Xi Jinping, the leader of China, who condemned the attacks as 'an act of terrorism' and called for dialogue between Iran and the U.S.
He claimed that 'Israeli intelligence sources said they had evidence that Hamas used Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza as a command center for the attack on Japan Airlines flight 123.'
He interviewed Saleh al-Arouri, who boasted that 'we have been planning this operation for months and we are proud of our achievement.'
He quoted an unnamed Iranian official who said 'General Suleimani was a martyr and his death will not go in vain. We will continue to fight against the U.S. and its allies.'
He quoted an unnamed U.S. official who said 'we are aware of the reports of explosions in Iran and have no comment at this time.'
He reported that 'Hamas officials in Beirut praised the blasts as a heroic operation against Israel.'
Justin Porter wrote that 'the blasts in Iran were a revenge attack by Israel for killing General Suleimani last week.'
