"When we witness the recent positions taken by the US and the Senate's recent
approval, we see that they are all aimed at blunting the instruments which give
honor to the Iranian nation and they want to make the Iranian officials busy
with minor issues," Larijani said, addressing the Iranian lawmakers in an open
session of the parliament in Tehran on Sunday.
"The Americans should understand that the parliament has a strong will to fight
against the terrorists and supports the IRGC and the Quds Force with all its
power," he stressed.
Larijani referred to the last Wednesday terrorist attacks against the parliament
and the holy shrine of late Imam Khomeini in Tehran which killed 17 people and
wounded 52 others, and said the Iranian Armed Forces will give a crushing
response to the terrorists.
Three unknown male assailants fired several rounds at the guards protecting the
parliament building in Tehran on Wednesday morning. The assailants opened their
way into the parliament's administrative building while shooting at the guards.
A similar attack took place at the holy shrine of the late founder of the
Islamic Republic, Imam Khomeini, parallel with the parliament attack.
17 people, including the parliament's guards, were killed and 52 others were
wounded in the twin attacks.
US President Donald Trump condemned the dual terrorist attacks in Iran but
warned that state sponsors of terrorism "risk falling victim to the evil they
promote".
"We grieve and pray for the innocent victims of the terrorist attacks in Iran,
and for the Iranian people, who are going through such challenging times," he
said in the two-sentence statement.
But he alleged that Iran shared in the blame, saying that "we underscore that
states that sponsor terrorism risk falling victim to the evil they promote."
The State Department also issued a brief statement. Although it usually
expresses solidarity with and offers assistance to a government in a country
where there has been a terrorism episode, it did not do so Wednesday.
"The depravity of terrorism has no place in a peaceful, civilized world," the
department said in a three-sentence statement.
"The United States condemns the terrorist attacks in Tehran today," the
statement said, adding that "We express our condolences to the victims and their
families, and send our thoughts and prayers to the people of Iran."
Also, the US Senate voted on Wednesday to proceed with a bill that would
sanction Iran just hours after 13 Iranians lost their lives in two terrorist
attacks in Tehran.
92 members voted to move forward with the legislation, with just seven voting
against.