A series of bomb attacks in close proximity to Baghdad's Green Zone has killed at least five Iraqi people and injured fifteen others including Press TV's cameraman. The first bomb detonated at about 7:25 a.m. (0425 GMT) in a parking area near the Ministry of Immigration and Displaced Persons. The second bomb went off near the Iranian embassy, and a third exploded near the Iraqi foreign ministry, Press TV correspondent reported.
The Iranian ambassador to Baghdad, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, said that the blast did not cause any casualties or damage to the embassy, adding that the embassy 'was not the target of the blasts.'
The report added that all three bombings occurred within minutes of one another. The fourth explosion was caused by a mortar shell.
Iraqi security officials warn militants will probably continue high-profile attacks in an attempt to destabilize the Iraqi government in advance of the March 7 parliamentary elections.
The Baghdad government has frequently accused its neighbors of failing to prevent foreign fighters from crossing its borders, and of not doing enough to clamp down on funding for al-Qaeda and remnants of Saddam Hussein's outlawed Baath party.
Most Sunni-run Iraqi neighbors used to enjoy warm relationships with former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein.
The blasts are the second in series of bombings to hit Baghdad over the past week. Last Tuesday, multiple coordinated bombings killed 127 people and wounded more than 500 others.
Al-Qaeda militants on Thursday claimed responsibility for the bombings and warned of more strikes to come against the Iraqi government.
Senior military officials in Iraq poined their fingers at Saudi Arabia over Iraq's multiple coordinated bombings on December 8, which killed 127 people and injured over 450 others.
The head of the ordnance department of Iraq's Interior Ministry said the terrorists behind the deadly attacks had used explosives that came from other countries like Saudi Arabia.
"The four bombings on Tuesday used explosives that originated abroad. They came from outside of Iraq, from Baathists and al-Qaeda, with the help of a neighboring country. That requires money and a large amount of support from Syria, Saudi Arabia or another country. Those states would not be unaware," Jihad al-Jabiri said