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The chief of Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Monday accused the United States, Britain and Pakistan of having links with the Sunni militants responsible for a suicide bombing that killed five senior Guard commanders and 37 others.

Iran's president also said those behind Sunday's bombing are hiding across the border in Pakistan, and in a phone call with his Pakistani counterpart on Monday he demanded their arrest.

A Sunni rebel group that has waged a low-level insurgency in Iran's southeast to protest what it says is the government's persecution of an ethnic minority there claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack. The claim was posted Monday on an Islamic website that usually publishes al-Qaeda statements. Its authenticity could not be verified.

Revolutionary Guard chief General Mohammad Ali Jafari said Monday that the Sunni rebel group, known as Jundallah, or Soldiers of God, is at work to disrupt security in Iran and he vowed a crushing response.

The official IRNA news agency quoted Gen. Jafari as saying that the group has links with American, British and Pakistani intelligence and operates under their support and orders.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had harsh words for his Pakistani counterpart, Asif Ali Zardari.

“The presence of terrorist elements in Pakistan is not justifiable and the Pakistani government needs to help arrest and punish the criminals as soon as possible,” state TV quoted Mr. Ahmadinejad as telling Mr. Zardari Monday.

Mr. Zardari telephoned Mr. Ahmadinejad to strongly condemn the suicide attack, said a statement from the Pakistani president's office.

Mr. Zardari said the incident was “gruesome and barbaric” and bore the “signatures of a cowardly enemy on the run.”

He said both Pakistan and Iran have deep historical ties and he assured that Pakistan will continue to support and co-operate with Iran in curbing militancy and fighting extremism and terrorism.