Iran Press/Iran News: President Hassan Rouhani in a phone call with Turkish President said: "US assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani was a grave mistake."
President Rouhani added: “We must respond to foolish acts, and there is no doubt that silence towards aggressors will make them even bolder."
The President continued: "Martyr Soleimani had an undeniable role in the fight against terrorists in the region and you know very well that he carried out this great regional and Islamic duty.”
"Iranians are very angry about this US act, he said, adding, "What the US did was a great, foolish mistake and America violated Iraq’s national sovereignty and carried out a terrorist act on Iraqi soil, going against the country’s independence.”
Rouhani added, "The United States also carried out a state-sponsored assassination against another government and martyred our beloved military commander. If we do not take a united stance against such acts by America, we will be in great danger."
The President appreciated the Turkish President’s condolences and said, "America has committed a great crime against us today and if we remain silent today, such an action will be carried out against other countries tomorrow."
"We expect all our friends and neighbors to condemn this crime explicitly," Rouhani said.
The president also referred to Syria and developments in the country, adding, "Efforts will continue in the framework of heads of state of Iran, Turkey, and Russia to help solve the Syrian issue.”
At the same phone call, the President of Turkey offered condolences over the martyrdom of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani to the Leader, the government and the people of Iran, and said he was deeply sorry for the loss of General Soleimani and that he understood the Iranian people’s anger.
Referring to the magnificent funeral of Martyr Soleimani that he saw on Iraqi television, Erdo?an added, "All these images clearly showed the Iraqi people's affection for Lieutenant General Soleimani”.
Noting the need for establishing stability and security in the region, he emphasized, "Foreign interventions and regional conflicts prevent the region from achieving peace and stability, and we must not allow such actions to pose a threat to the peace and stability of the region."
The Turkish president emphasized, "I am confident that the Iranian cultural and governmental structure, which is rooted in history, will manage this period of time by relying on its wisdom."
Referring to the talks between the two countries' foreign ministers, Erdo?an added, "We will discuss bilateral and regional issues during our visit to Tehran in the near future."
On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a phone conversation with his Turkish counterpart Mevlüt Çavu?o?lu discussed issues related to the assassination of IRGC's Quds Force Commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.
Zarif and Çavu?o?lu exchanged views on the latest regional and international developments after the sad assassination. The top Turkish diplomat expressed condolences to the Iranian government and people.
Also on the same day, President Rouhani, in a meeting with the visiting Qatari Foreign Minister, said that the US will pay a heavy price for the assassination of the commander of Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC).
Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani who arrived in Tehran on Saturday met with Iranian Foreign Minister and President Rouhani later in the day. 101/211/205
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