WASHINGTON, July 13: Iran could be behind the suicide attack at a shopping mall in Israel that killed at least four, US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld alleged on Tuesday.

“I wouldn’t want to suggest that I know about the attack today, but clearly that’s been one of the stated and continuous purposes of Iran, to harm Israel,” said Rumsfeld, speaking at a press conference with his Italian counterpart Antonio Martino.

“We know that Iran has been on the terrorist list. We know that Iran has been assisting Hezbollah and other organizations and moving equipment and people down through Damascus into Beirut and down into positions where they can attack Israel for years and years and years and years,” he said.

The attack in the Israeli city of Netanya was the first suicide bombing inside Israel in four and a half months. At least three Israelis as well as the bomber were killed in the blast.—AFP