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Three days of mourning began in the Iranian province of Sistan-Baluchestan on Monday, after dozens of people were killed in a militant attack a day earlier, state media reported.


Images from Iranian TV show debris and carnage from a suicide bombing Sunday in Sarbaz.
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A man carrying explosives blew himself up Sunday as participants headed to a conference between Shia and Sunni groups in southeastern Iran, killing at least 42, state-run Press TV reported.

The blast in the city of Sarbaz, in Sistan-Baluchestan, wounded 28 others, the semi-official Fars news agency said.

Among those killed were five senior officers of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard Corps, Fars said.

Various media outlets offered conflicting figures for the number of dead and wounded.

Among the officers killed was Nour-Ali Shoushtari, the deputy head of the corps' ground forces, who was in the province to mediate between the two sides, Fars said.

The perpetrators of the attack would be dealt a crushing response, Press TV reported Gen. Mohammad Pakpour, the commander of the corps' ground force, saying.

The terrorist group Jundallah -- also known as the People's Resistance Movement of Iran -- claimed responsibility, according to Press TV.

In the past, the predominantly Shiite central government in Tehran has accused Jundallah of fomenting unrest in the province. Iran has alleged that the United States and Saudi Arabia are funding the group. Jundallah says it is fighting for the rights of Sunni Muslims in the country.

Earlier, Iran pointed the finger at the United States without disclosing its reasons.

"We consider this recent terrorist act to be the result of the U.S. actions and this is a sign of their enmity," said parliament Speaker Ali Larijani.

A U.S. State Department spokesman said the accusation was "completely false."

"We condemn this act of terrorism and mourn the loss of innocent lives. Reports of alleged U.S. involvement are completely false," Ian Kelly told CNN.

The United Kingdom also condemned the attack.