IRGC chief: Iran to avenge Gen. Soleimani’s blood, continue his path

Speaking on the sidelines of an exhibition in Tehran on Tuesday, Major General Hossein Salami said enemies wrongly believe that the martyrdom of great men would grind the Islamic Revolution to a halt, but the historical realities of the past four decades have shown otherwise.

He said martyrdom is in fact the driving force behind the resistance and defense agenda of Iran and other Muslim nations.

The rule is the same in the case of the martyrdom of General Soleimani, the “great” and “unforgettable” commander, who belonged to the entire Muslim world, Salami added.

The IRGC chief said not only will Iran take revenge for the US assassination in January of General Soleimani, but it will also “continue the sacred path of General Soleimani until the end, which is the liberation of al-Quds, the elimination of enemies of Islam and their expulsion from Muslim lands.”

Avenging his blood has “turned into an ideal. We will be pursuing our ideals,” he emphasized.

The US military assassinated General Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, along with Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy head of Iraq’s Hashd al-Sha’abi, and their companions by targeting their vehicles outside Baghdad International Airport on January 3.

The act of terror was carried out under the direction of US President Donald Trump, while General Soleimani was on an official visit to neighboring Iraq.

The IRGC chief was echoing Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, who said last month that Iran will never forget Washington’s crime and will definitely serve it with a “counterblow.”

Shortly after the assassination, Ayatollah Khamenei vowed “harsh revenge” against the Americans, with the IRGC launching missile raids on two US bases on Iraqi soil in a “first slap.”

Enemies sought to institutionalize instability in region: Defense chief

Iran’s Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami also said on Tuesday that the enemies had hatched a “big plot” for the West Asia and were bent on institutionalizing insecurity in the region for the decades to come.

Led by General Soleimani, the resistance fighters, however, stood up against the conspiracy and thwarted the scheme thanks to the sacrifices of the fighters and martyrs, he added.

He noted that the resistance fighters have managed to resist against all those who “brought their money of weapons and crimes” to the region to create insecurity under General Soleimani’s “courageous” command and with full support of Iran’s Armed Forces.

The defense chief said Iran is prepared to provide the Armed Forces with the necessary military hardware wherever the need arises so they will be able to safeguard the nation and work to “uproot oppression and crimes in the region and the world.”

Terrorists, their supporters sought to endanger Iran security: Military chief

Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri said terrorists and their supporters attempted in vain to pose major threats to Iran’s security by gaining dominance over Iraq and Syria.

However, he added, the battles that led to the enemy’s defeat enabled the Iranian nation to tread the path of progress in peace.

He noted that enemies have created terrorist groups to endanger freedom and security of the regional countries, especially Iraq and Syria.

Had it not been for the advisory presence of General Soleimani, his companions and other commanders, these countries would have been definitely fallen to terrorists such as Daesh.