Iran official blames U.S. in deadly mosque bombing

Iranian leaders, who often accuse the United States and its allies of seeking to destabilize it, refer to Washington as the "Great Satan," guilty of "global arrogance."

Iran has also previously accused its arch-foe of supporting Sunni rebels operating on its border with Pakistan.

U.S. INVOLVEMENT DOUBTED

Sistan-Baluchestan province, home to Iran's mostly Sunni ethnic Baluchis, is the scene of frequent clashes between security forces and heavily armed drug smugglers and bandits.

Defense analyst Paul Beaver said it was "highly unlikely" that the U.S. administration of President Barack Obama, who is seeking to engage Tehran diplomatically after three decades of mutual mistrust, would support Sunni insurgents in Iran.

He said history had shown that backing guerrilla groups to effect regime change was "ineffectual and wrong, and the present U.S. administration does not want to be tarnished in that way."

In an incident on Friday in the same city, three people were wounded when gunmen on a motorbike opened fire on the local campaign headquarters of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Zahedan, IRNA said.

Police later arrested the attackers, it said. Two of the wounded worked in the election office. A child was also hurt.

In April, Iran's intelligence minister said it had arrested a group of people linked to Israel who were planning bombings before the June 12 election, in which the conservative incumbent, Ahmadinejad, is seeking a second four-year term.

(Editing by Angus MacSwan)