Special Report: Iran Nuclear Crisis    

    TEHRAN, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The Iranian judiciary said on Tuesday the 12 people arrested over a mosque bombing in the southern city of Shiraz in April have confessed they had been backed by the United States and Britain, Iran's ISNA news agency reported.

    Judiciary spokesman Ali Reza Jamshidi said the arrested "have confessed that they had links with the foreigners, especially those of the United States and the UK."

    "The interference of foreigners, especially the United States and the UK, is clear and they have trained and supported the terrorists financially," Jamshidi added.

    The blast on April 12 ripped through a packed mosque during a prayer sermon in Shiraz, killing 13 people and wounding at least 200 others.

    Iran has blamed Western-backed dissidents for the bombing and threatened to take legal actions against Washington and London over the deadly blast.

    Jamshidi said the Iranian people "knew from the beginning that the United States and Britain were supporting the terrorist groups."

    Arrested together with bomb-making equipment and arms, the detainees had the intention to plant explosives in the crowded areas, he added.

    "They will be severely punished and Iran will file lawsuit, domestically and internationally, against those governments who are directly or indirectly involved in this issue," Jamshidi said.