As Iran Starts Remembering Gen. Soleimani,

U.S. Perennially Responsible for ‘Terrorist Act’

Date: 31 December 2021 - 21:16

News ID: ۹۸۳۹۴

TEHRAN — Iran said Friday the current U.S. administration is also “responsible” for the assassination two years ago of its legendary anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani, as the Islamic Republic started commemorations to mark his martyrdom.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump brought the region to the brink of a war on January 3, 2020 with the terrorist assassination of General Soleimani, who was commander of the Quds Force.
Gen. Soleimani was martyred in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad ordered by Trump, along with Iraq’s top anti-terror commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, sparking a massive wave of condemnation and outrage across the region and elsewhere.
“The U.S. government bears definitive international responsibility for this crime,” Iran’s foreign ministry said in a statement posted on Twitter to mark the second anniversary of Gen. Soleimani’s martyrdom.
“Undoubtedly, the criminal act of the United States in martyring general #Soleimani is a clear manifestation of a ‘terrorist attack’ that was orchestrated and carried out in an organized manner by the then U.S. government for which the White House is now responsible,” it said, in reference to President Joe Biden’s administration.
Five days after Gen. Soleimani’s assassination, Iran fired missiles at a U.S. air base in Ain al-Assad housing American troops in Iraq, and another near Arbil in the north as part of its retaliation.
Washington said more than 110 soldiers suffered traumatic brain injuries from the explosions.
The foreign ministry’s statement came as Iran prepared Friday to launch week-long activities to commemorate Gen. Soleimani’s martyrdom.
Authorities said the main event of the remembrance will be held on Monday. They added that on January 7 a display of “Iran’s missile capabilities” will be held.
Iranian officials have pledged repeatedly that Gen. Soleimani will be avenged.
On the first anniversary of his assassination then judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi — who is now Iran’s president — warned that even Trump was not “immune from justice” and that Gen. Soleimani’s assassins would “not be safe anywhere in the world.”
Parliament speaker Muhammad Baqer Qalibaf on Thursday described Gen. Soleimani as a popular resistance commander who shattered U.S. hegemony in the region.
General Soleimani helped the resistance front defeat the U.S. and the Israeli regime by relying on people and always defended children and the oppressed, the speaker said.
“The shedding of Martyr Soleimani’s blood signed off the document for the expulsion of America from the region. Today, we see America is leaving the region with humility,” Qalibaf said.
The “ugly and filthy” assassination operation against the resistance commanders exposed the fallacy of claims by the global arrogance about defending human rights and international law, he added.
“The good and effective performance of General Soleimani brought honor and dignity to Muslims and freedom-seekers of the world. The Islamic establishment of Iran is proud of having trained such a military commander,” who was a popular figure committed to humanitarian and Islamic values, Qalibaf said.