Revenge. This is what all Iranian political leaders promise, Friday, January 3, a few hours after the death of the boss of the foreign operations of the guards of the revolution, the Iranian general Ghassem Soleimani, killed during the night during an American raid in Baghdad . "The martyr Soleimani is the international face of the resistance and all the supporters of the resistance want his blood to be avengedwrote Supreme Guide Ali Khamenei in a message posted on his official website. A fierce revenge awaits the assassins who have covered their ugly hands with his blood and that of the other martyrs of last night’s event. "
He also promised that"A certain victory will await the combatants", by decreeing three days of national mourning. According to the Iranian press, for the first time in history, Ali Khamenei went to the meeting of the Supreme Security Council on Friday morning in order to"Study the assassination of Ghassem Soleimani" and of "Make certain decisions". At midday, Tehran announced the appointment of the successor to Ghassem Soleimani, its former deputy, Esmaïl Qaani.
The government of President Hassan Rohani has, through its Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Javad Zarif, described the American raid as ""Extremely dangerous" and D'"Stupid escalation". "The United States is responsible for all the consequences of its unscrupulous adventurism", warned the Iranian foreign minister on Twitter. Other Iranian politicians followed suit, posting photos of them with General Soleimani.
The US 'act of international terrorism, targeting & assassinating General Soleimani — THE most effective force fighti… https://t.co/H4KIFGdk2Q
On the Iranian political scene, the death of Ghassem Soleimani, alternately nicknamed "Shadow commander", "International general" and "Enemy's nightmare", united all factions, from the hard wing to the most reformers. However, the differences between the Iranian political currents had reached new heights following the repression of the demonstrations which occurred in mid-November 2019, having made "At least 304 dead", according to Amnesty International. The American strike will, at least for some time, mute all the differences within power.
"Assassin assassins"
Former reformist president Mohammad Khatami (1997-2005) also published his handwritten message of condolence on social media, calling it "Considerable damage to Islam and Iran" the death of Ghassem Soleimani by "The murderous occupiers of Iraq and the region". The ex-president, because of his differences with the Supreme Leader, is barred from intervention in the Iranian media.
