In a statement released on Saturday, Esmaeil Baqaei expressed deep abhorrence over the heinous crime and said terrorist acts targeting religious sites and clerics in Syria and the region are part of an “evil plot” by the Zionist regime and the United States aimed at sowing sedition and division among regional countries.

The Iranian spokesperson stressed that all parties must remain vigilant regarding such plots and fulfill their responsibilities in confronting terrorism and extremism decisively.

Baqaei also extended condolences to the family of the late cleric, as well as to the Syrian people and the country’s community of religious scholars, emphasizing the need to identify and punish those responsible for the terrorist attack and to enhance collective cooperation among regional states to eradicate terrorism.

He finally underlined the responsibility of Syria’s transitional government to ensure the security of the people, religious scholars, and all ethnic, religious, and sectarian groups in the country.

Assailants killed the Shiite cleric on Friday near Damascus by hurling a grenade into his car.

Syria's Interior Ministry has opened an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and launched efforts to identify the suspect.