Iran Mourns Diplomats Slain by Afghan Taliban

Hundreds of thousands of Iranians, many of them chanting anti-Taliban slogans, joined the funeral procession Friday for six diplomats killed by the Afghan militia’s fighters.

Their coffins, cloaked in Iran’s red, white and green flag, were brought to Tehran University, where prayers were held.

Zabihullah Bakhshi, a member of the militant Ansar-e Hezbollah group, said the deaths would be avenged. “We will not let your blood go to waste!” he shouted, dressed in camouflage and carrying a rifle.

Demonstrations against Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban were also held in the cities of Mashhad, Arak and Tabriz, Iran’s official Islamic Republic News Agency reported.

The Taliban militia admitted last week to killing eight diplomats and a journalist after its forces captured the northern city of Mazar-i-Sharif on Aug. 8.

The Taliban returned seven of the nine bodies to Tehran on Monday. However, Iranian radio reported Friday that the Foreign Ministry could not identify one of the bodies and asked the international Red Cross to try to help.

The killings brought to a head simmering tension between Iran and the Taliban, whose members are Sunni Muslims. Iran, which is mainly Shiite Muslim, has massed tens of thousands of troops on its border with Afghanistan and has put the military on full alert.

Taliban leaders say they have rushed troops to the border region to repulse any Iranian attack.

Iran is suspected of backing Afghanistan’s opposition.

Tehran has accused Pakistani forces of helping the Taliban storm the Iranian consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif, a charge Pakistan denies.