FM Zarif to Trump: Gen. Soleimani’s Funeral Marking End of US Presence in Middle-East

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif posted some photos of million-strong funeral procession of IRGC Qods Force Commander Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani who was assassinated by the terrorist army of the US in Baghdad on Friday, and reminded US President Donald Trump the scenes today signifies the end of American military presence in the Middle East.

Zarif, in a tweet on Monday, asked Trump if he had “EVER seen such a sea of humanity” in his life, tagging some photos of the today’s unprecedented turn-on of population in General Soleimani’s procession, along with his message.

“Do you still want to listen to the clowns advising you on our region,” the top diplomat said in reference to his earlier tweet about Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

“End of malign US presence in West Asia has begun,” he concluded noting the decision of Iraqi parliament for expelling American forces from the Arab country.

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.

Earlier on Monday, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh underlined that the Islamic Republic’s reprisal after assassination of Lieutenant General Soleimani will not be limited to firing a dozen missiles.

“Martry Soleimani’s revenge will not end by launching four missiles or targeting a US military base or even by killing Trump; I mean none of these have the same value as the blood of this martyr,” Brigadier General Hajizadeh told reporters before the start of the funeral ceremony of Lieutenant General Soleimani in Tehran.

He reiterated that attacking the US bases in the region cannot compensate the blood of the General Soleimani.

“The only thing that can compensate the blood of this martyr is the complete destruction of America in the region,” General Hajizadeh added.

The senior military commander’s remarks came as millions of Iranians had unprecedentedly gathered in Tehran to commemorate their General who was assassinated by US terrorist forces in Iraq on Friday morning.

Iran has vowed ‘hard revenge’ in ‘due time and right place’ over Washington’s act of terror.

In relevant remarks earlier on Monday, new Commander of the IRGC Qods Force Brigadier General Esmayeel Qaani underlined that the US should wait for Tehran’s reprisal after assassination of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.

“The revenge for Soleimani’s martyrdom is a promise given by God, as the God is the main avenger,” Brigadier General Qaani said, addressing the funeral procession of late General Soleimani.

Brigadier General Qaani said that “we promise to continue Martyr Soleimani’s path with the same strength and his martyrdom will be reciprocated in several steps by removing the US from the region”.

He underlined that the continuance of this movement is to reach the global governance of Imam Mahdi (May God Hasten His Reappearance).