(Tehran) Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi on Monday threatened with revenge the former American leaders including Donald Trump, responsible according to him for the elimination of General Qassem Soleimani, killed in early 2020 in a raid in Baghdad.
“So much the better if a fair trial against Mr. Trump, (former Secretary of State Mike) Pompeo and other criminals is launched to try their horrific crime,” Raisi said.
Otherwise, I say to all American statesmen, have no doubt that the hand of vengeance will come out of the sleeve of the Muslim community.
Iranian President Ebrahim Raïssi
Mr. Raïssi was speaking at a rally in Tehran marking the second anniversary of the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, maker of Iran’s regional influence, killed on January 3, 2020 in a US strike near the airport of Baghdad.
PHOTO ATTA KENARE, FRANCE-PRESS AGENCY
Iranian President Ayatollah Ebrahim Raïssi. during a rally in Tehran marking the second anniversary of the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed on January 3, 2020 in an American strike near Baghdad airport.
State television showed live footage of the ceremony, held in Tehran’s largest prayer hall where thousands of people waving the Iranian flag and portraits of Soleimani.
Mr Trump had ordered Soleimani’s elimination, saying the general was planning an “imminent” attack on US personnel in the Iraqi capital.
Iran responded to his assassination by firing missiles a few days later at Iraqi bases housing American soldiers.
Iran targets “125 suspects or accused”
The deputy head of the judiciary in Iran, Kazem Gharibabadi, said Sunday that “125 suspects or accused”, mostly American officials, were involved in the assassination of the general.
PHOTO ATTA KENARE, FRANCE-PRESS AGENCY
A billboard depicting Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in the capital Tehran on January 2, 2022, a day before the second anniversary of his execution in a US raid on Iraq.
Iran also said on Friday that the current US administration was “responsible” for Mr. Trump’s decision to eliminate Soleimani.
“The terrorist attack […] was orchestrated and carried out in an organized manner by the then US government for which the White House is now responsible, ”the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Since Friday, commemorations have been held in Iran to mark the anniversary of Soleimani’s elimination and a “missile capabilities” parade is scheduled for January 7.
These commemorations come in the midst of talks to save the international Iranian nuclear agreement concluded in 2015, dying since the unilateral withdrawal in 2018 of the United States and the reinstatement of sanctions.