More than 170 people have also been wounded according to Iranian officials at the scene.

News reports citing local officials said that there were two explosions as thousands were walking along the route to a cemetery in Kerman which is the final resting place of Qassim Suleimani, who was killed in a US drone strike in the Iraqi capital Baghdad four years ago.

Reports suggest the roadside bombs were detonated by remote control, causing widespread carnage and chaos, in what Iranian authorities are describing as a terrorist attack. 

Given the scale and size of the blasts, it’s likely that the death toll will rise.

Call for accountability

“The Secretary-General expresses his deep condolences to the bereaved families and the people and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He wishes the injured a speedy recovery”, said Florencia Soto Niño, UN Associate Spokesperson, briefing journalists at the regular noon briefing in New York.

The UN chief called for those responsible, to be held accountable for the deadly blasts.

So far, there has been no claim of responsibility for the attack.

General Suleimani was an influential national figure who was credited with building and arming a network of militias across the Middle East, including Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, according to news reports.