Iran Arrests 11 Suspects Over Deadly Twin Blasts

Iran Arrests 11 Suspects Over Deadly Twin Blasts
Image copyright: Majid Saeedi/Getty Images News via Getty Images (Tehran, Jan. 4, 2020)

The Spin

Pro-Iran narrative

Although IS claims it's behind the nefarious attacks and the suspects arrested are all affiliated with the terrorist group, the circumstances surrounding the plot — particularly amid the current regional instability — suggests something larger may be at play. Pres. Raisi will get to the bottom of this and bring actors, both domestic and foreign, to justice.

Anti-Iran narrative

While blame for the attack was falsely placed on Israel and the US, the true culprit is IS, which seized an opportunity to strike against its enemy. This wasn't a covert operation by foreign powers but rather a well-planned terrorist attack tied to the centuries-long clash between Sunnis and Shiites.

Metaculus Prediction


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