Man in Iran guns down 12 family members with Kalashnikov assault rifle over dispute

Iran has occasional shootings, but Saturday's violence marked the deadliest incident in decades

There is a ‘direct correlation’ between the US’s ‘tough’ attitude and Iran’s aggression: Reza Pahlavi

Exiled Crown Prince of Iran Reza Pahlavi reveals his thoughts on what the Biden administration should do to put an end to Iran’s terrorist ways on ‘Fox News Live.’ 

A 30-year-old man gunned down 12 of his relatives in a rural area of southeast Iran on Saturday, marking one of the country’s deadliest shootings in decades. 

Prosecutors in the province of Kerman said the gunman opened fire on his father, brother, and other relatives because of a family dispute.  

Kerman province iran

Iranian mourners gather during the funeral ceremony in the Kerman province, where Saturday’s violence was reported to have taken place.  (AMIR MORADI/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images)

A report from the semiofficial ISNA news agency did not identify the assailant but mentioned that he used a Kalashnikov assault rifle.

EGYPT SETTING UP GAZA BORDER SHELTER FOR PALESTINIANS AHEAD OF EXPECTED ISRAELI OFFENSIVE IN RAFAH: REPORT

While there are occasional shootings in Iran, Saturday’s attack marked one of the highest death tolls in Iran, where citizens are only legally allowed hunting rifles, common in rural areas.

In 2022, an employee, who was dismissed from a state-owned financial conglomerate, opened fire at his former workplace, killing three people and injuring another five before killing himself in the country's west. In 2016, a 26-year-old man shot 10 relatives in a rural area in the south of Iran.

In recent years, violence has spiked in the country suffering from deteriorating economic conditions coupled with crushing American sanctions that helped spark soaring inflation and increasing unemployment.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Bradford Betz is a Fox News Digital breaking reporter covering crime, political issues, and much more. 

Authored by Bradford Betz via FoxNews February 18th 2024