UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council on Friday strongly condemned as a "terrorist attack" the twin suicide bombings on a mosque in southeastern Iran that left 27 people dead.

Earlier in the day, UN chief Ban Ki-moon also slammed the bombings, which were claimed by the shadowy Sunni rebel group Jundallah (Soldiers of God), as a "senseless act of terrorism."

A statement read by Nigeria`s UN Ambassador Joy Ogwu, who chairs the council this month, said all 15 members "condemned on the strongest terms the terrorist attack" in Zahedan, capital of Iran`s Sistan-Baluchestan province.

It stressed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations "is criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of its motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed."

Jundallah said it carried out the bombings to avenge the hanging of its veteran leader Abdolmalek Rigi.

Tehran has long charged that the group has received backing from Washington as part of its efforts to undermine the Islamic Republic.

Jundallah claims to be fighting for the interests of Sistan-Baluchestan province`s large ethnic Baluch community, who unlike most Iranians, mainly follow the Sunni branch of Islam.

BDST: 0915 HRS, 17 July 2010