Iran’s President: Europe Indebted to Lieut. Gen. Soleimani in Fight Against Daesh

Iranian President Seyed Ebrahim Raeisi lashed out at the US for assassinating anti-terror icon Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, and further underlined that Europeans owe their security and stability to the late commander who vanquished terrorist groups in West Asia, specifically Daesh (also known as ISIS or ISIL).

Iran’s president made the remarks in a meeting with representatives of US political think tanks in New York on Tuesday.

President Rayeesi termed the US assassination of the top anti-terror commander as a clear example of state terrorism, and called for a fair trial against the former US President Donald Trump.

The Iranian chief executive emphasized the vital role the anti-terror hero played in combating terrorism and maintaining peace in the region, underscoring, “If he [Lieut. Gen. Soleimani] hadn’t stopped Daesh, terrorism would be spreading all over Europe.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Rayeesi warned that the presence of foreigners is the root cause of tensions and instability in West Asia.

“The presence of Americans in the Persian Gulf and the seizure of ships causes insecurity in the region,” he stressed.

Pointing to the recent unrest in Iran over the death of Mahsa Amini, the president said the US administration’s miscalculations on the last year developments root in the wrong advices of some seemingly Iranian mercenary elements as well as the wrong assessment of the spy services.

“The Americans left the negotiating table and were in vain hopeful about the outcome of the turmoil,” he added, referring to the talks aimed at reviving the 2015 nuclear deal.

He also cautioned that the enemies were seeking to redo the Syria scenario in Iran, but their push resulted in nothing but vain.

On the war between Russia and Ukraine, Rayeesi offered Iran’s readiness to mediate and facilitate peace talks between Moscow and Kiev. He once again dismissed the claim on delivering weapons to Russia for use in the ongoing war against Ukraine.

Iran’s president criticized the use of American taxpayer dollars to fund arms manufacturers, noting that the United States has not been in war for only about 20 years during the past 250 years.

Lieutenant General Soleimani, his Iraqi trenchmate Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq’s PMU, and ten of their deputies were martyred by an armed drone strike that was directly ordered by the White House as their convoy left Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020.

Both commanders were highly revered across the Middle East because of their key role in fighting the Daesh Takfiri terrorist group in the region, particularly in Iraq and Syria.

Iranian officials have repeatedly emphasized that Tehran will certainly take revenge from the masterminds and perpetrators of the terror attack on the anti-terror icon. Tehran stresses Americans and Zionists rest assured that it is serious about revenge for the assassination of Martyr Soleimani, and they continue to live under the shadow of Iran’s reprisal since they don’t know when and where they come under attack.

On January 8, the the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has targeted the US-run Ein Al-Assad in Iraq’s Western province of Al-Anbar by launching a volley of missiles in retaliation. According to the Pentagon, at least 110 American forces suffered “traumatic brain injuries” during the counterstrike on the base. Iran has described the missile attack as a “first slap”.

Iran has asked Interpol to issue a red notice for all perpetrators and masterminds of the assassination of Lieut. Gen. Soleimani. Tehran has also identified dozens of people in connection with the targeted terror attack and that includes Trump, Pentagon officials and American forces in the region. The Iranian Foreign Ministry has also declared sanctions against several persons – including Trump, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former National Security Advisor John Bolton – who have ordered, perpetrated or cooperated in the assassination of Lieutenant General Soleimani.

Back in May, Tehran’s Prosecutor General Ali Salehi issued arrest warrants for dozens of former and present US officials, including Trump, Pompeo and former Head of the CENTCOM General Kenneth Franklin McKenzie for their involvement in the assassination of the anti-terror hero.