Why it matters:
Remembering General Qassem Soleimani as an enduring national and transnational symbol of unity, selflessness, and resistance reinforces his central place in Iran’s political identity and underscores a firm stance against foreign-backed terrorism in the region.
Flashback:
On January 3, 2020, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), under orders from then-President Donald Trump, assassinated Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the IRGC Quds Force, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the acting commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU). The two were leading figures in the fight against Daesh (ISIS).
What they're saying:
Speaking Thursday night at a ceremony in Tehran marking the anniversary of the “martyrs of resistance,” Pezeshkian described General Qassem Soleimani as a unique model of ethics, courage, justice-seeking, and defense of the oppressed.
He denounced the United States and Israel, accusing them of perpetrating “state terrorism” through the targeted killing of Iranian elites, military commanders, scientists, and international anti-terrorism figures such as Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis under the guise of democracy and freedom.
Russian politician and lawmaker Sergey Baburin said that General Soleimani left important messages for both Muslims and Christians, one emphasizing strategic cooperation between Iran and Russia, and another highlighting the need to fight against the Zionist project of building up the city of Jerusalem(Al-Quds).
During the 12-day war, Iran demonstrated that Israel can be punished and must be punished, and Iran proved this, he noted
Go deeper:
US terrorist forces assassinated leading commander in the fight against terrorism
ahmad shirzadian - seyed mohammad kazemi
