By Mustafa Mellih Aahshali

TEHRAN

Iranian Interior Minister Hossein Zolfaqari has criticized neighboring Pakistan over a recent deadly attack that killed 27 troops in southeastern Iran.

"The Pakistani steps have not met our aspirations in the war against the terrorists," Zolfaqari said in statements cited by the semi-official ISNA News Agency on Wednesday.

He said Islamabad had taken some steps in the fight against terrorism in recent years.

“But given the level of threats, this didn't meet our aspirations,” he said.

Last week, at least 27 members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards were killed when a bomb-laden vehicle targeted a bus carrying IRGC personnel in the Sistan-Baluchestan province.

The IRGC has accused Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of supporting the attack, which was claimed by Jaish al Adal (Army of Justice) group, which says it seeks greater rights and better living conditions for the ethnic minority Baluchis.

Islamabad, for its part, condemned the bombing "in the strongest terms."

"Shocked and grieved to hear about the suicide attack on IRGC bus near Zahidan, in which many lives were lost. Deepest sympathies with the families of those who have suffered in this heinous attack of terror," Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesman Mohammad Faisal said on Twitter.