[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Iran announced on the 3rd (local time) a "harsh retaliation" after Qasem Soleimani, commander of the elite Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the most powerful military figure in Iran, was killed in a U.S. airstrike. With the U.S. revealing that it eliminated Commander Soleimani under the orders of President Donald Trump, tensions between the two countries have escalated, raising concerns about a potential armed conflict.
According to Iran's IRNA and Bloomberg News, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader, issued a statement through state media on the same day, announcing a three-day public mourning period and warning of retaliation. This was the first message following the news that Commander Soleimani was killed in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq.
Supreme Leader Khamenei said, "His martyrdom is God's reward for his lifelong unwavering dedication," adding, "Harsh retaliation awaits the criminals with bloodstained hands who shed his martyr's blood." He continued, "Martyr General Soleimani bravely carried out jihad (Islamic holy war) against the world's devils on the battlefield throughout his life," emphasizing, "Though it is difficult to send off such a great general, his spirit and victory, which frustrate the murderers, will continue."
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani also stated in a declaration, "Soleimani's martyrdom compels Iran to resist American expansionism and uphold Islamic values," and expressed, "Without a doubt, Iran and other freedom-seeking countries in the Middle East will seek revenge."
The IRGC confirmed on the same day that Commander Soleimani died in a U.S. bombing in Iraq. In an urgent statement released that morning, the IRGC said, "Our irreplaceable hero, General Soleimani, died following an airstrike by invading U.S. forces and terrorists near Baghdad Airport," adding, "Several of his comrades and commanders of Iraq's Hashd al-Shaabi (Iraq's pro-Iranian Shia militias) also died in the attack."
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif criticized on Twitter on the 3rd, stating, "The U.S.'s international terrorist act of assassinating General Soleimani is extremely dangerous and foolish," and added, "The U.S. must take full responsibility for the consequences of such rogue adventurism." In a separate statement, he also emphasized that Soleimani's death would further solidify resistance against Iran and Israel.
The Iranian government is acting urgently following Commander Soleimani's death. On the same day, Iran announced plans to hold a Supreme National Security Council meeting to investigate the criminal act surrounding the attack on the vehicle carrying Commander Soleimani in Baghdad, according to a spokesperson. Additionally, Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the charg? d'affaires of the Swiss Embassy, which represents U.S. interests due to severed diplomatic relations, to lodge a protest with the United States.
Earlier, the U.S. Department of Defense announced that U.S. forces killed Commander Soleimani under the orders of President Donald Trump. Following reports of Soleimani's death, President Trump effectively acknowledged it by posting an image of the American flag on his Twitter account without further explanation.
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