Iranian MPs Ask Supreme Leader to Take Tough Revenge for General Soleimani’s Assassination

Iranian legislators in a letter to Supreme Leader of the Islamic Ummah and Oppressed Imam Seyed Ali Khamenei called for Iran’s decisive action to retaliate assassination of IRGC Qods Force Commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

The “tough retaliation” should be proportionate to the high position and esteem of General Soleimani and Iran so that ill-wishers, specially the US, carry the bitterness of this response in their minds to prevent a repetition of their boldness, said the letter which was read at the parliament in Tehran on Tuesday.

“We have no doubt that the level of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s reaction to the terrorist act of the criminal US government is a determining factor in creating a long-term balance at regional and international levels,” it added.

The Iranian lawmakers underlined that if the tough revenge will be taken appropriately, directly and militarily, it will certainly annihilate the US empty awe and make the American officials understand that the era of hit-and-run has ended.

“In addition, it is necessary to focus on the US forces pullout from West Asia in a bid to materialize this strategic goal with the help of resistance front,” the letter said.

Ayatollah Khamenei had stated on Friday that those who assassinated General Soleimani must await a tough revenge.

Ayatollah Khamenei said in a statement on Friday that the “cruelest people on earth” assassinated the “honorable” commander who “courageously fought for years against the evils and bandits of the world”.

His demise will not stop his mission, but the criminals who have the blood of General Soleimani and other martyrs of the attack on their hands must await a tough revenge, the Leader added.

The Leader noted that all the friends and foes must know that the Resistance movement’s struggle will continue more strongly, and a definite victory awaits those who fight on this auspicious path.

“The demise of our selfless and dear general is bitter, but the continued fight and achievement of the final victory will make life bitterer for the murderers and criminals,” he stressed.

Lieutenant General Soleimani was martyred in a targeted assassination attack by the US drones at Baghdad International Airport early on Friday morning.

General Qassem Soleimani has been martyred by the US aircraft after lifetime efforts, the IRGC said in a statement early Friday morning.

The airstrike also martyred Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), or Hashad al-Shaabi. The PMF media arm said the two were martyred in an American airstrike that targeted their vehicle on the road to the airport.

Five Iranian and five Iraqi militaries were martyred by missiles fired by the US drone at Baghdad International Airport.

The Pentagon confirmed the attack in a statement.

The attack came amid tensions that started by the US attack on PMF units that killed 28 Iraqi popular forces. A day later, Iraqi people attacked the US embassy in Baghdad. On Wednesday President Donald Trump ordered about 750 US soldiers deployed to the Middle East.

US officials earlier suggested they were to engage in further retaliatory attacks in Iraq.

The developments also represent a major downturn in Iraq-US relations that could further undermine US influence in the region and American troops in Iraq and weaken Washington’s hand in its pressure campaign against Iran.

US President Donald Trump was vacationing on his estate in Palm Beach, Florida, but sent out a tweet of an American flag.

The attack represents a dramatic escalation by the US toward Iran after months of tensions. The tensions take root in Trump’s decision in May 2018 to withdraw the US from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, struck under his predecessor.