Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei said those who assassinated Commander Major General Qassem Suleimani must await a harsh revenge.
In a statement on Friday, Ayatollah Khamenei said the “cruelest people on earth” assassinated the honorable commander who courageously fought for years against the evil people and the bandits of the world.
Khameni’ added that all the friends and foes must know that the path of the resistance will continue with double motivation, and a definite victory awaits those who fight in this path.
“Martyr Suleimani is an international figure of the Resistance, and all the devotees of Resistance are now his avengers.” Khamenei added.
In his statement, Khamenei also offered condolences to the Iranian nation and General Suleimani’s family, and declared three days of national mourning.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani strongly condemned the attack, and said the US assassination will make Iran and other free nations more determined to stand against Washington.
President Rouhani said in a statement that the martyrdom of the courageous commander of the Quds Force, major General Qassem Suleimani, along with some of his companions especially the great fighter Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, by the aggressive and criminal US saddened the entire nation of Iran and regional nations.
He added that the assassination intensified the determination of Iran and other free nations to stand against and resist the excessive demands of the US and to defend the Islamic values.
Rouhani stressed that the assassination of Suleimani indicates the weakness of the US, noting that such crime violates all humanitarian principles.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has also strongly condemned US assassination of Suleimani, saying it will strengthen the resistance movement across the world.
Zarif added that the malice and stupidity of the terrorist American forces in assassinating General Suleimani, the hero and commander of the fight against terrorism and extremism, will undoubtedly make resistance stronger in the region and the world.
He added that the Iranian Foreign Ministry would use all its political and diplomatic capabilities to carry out the decision of the Iranian National Security Council to respond to the heinous crime of assassinating general Suleimani.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry also summoned the Swiss ambassador in Tehran as his country is responsible for Washington’s interests in Tehran. Spokesman for the Ministry Abbas Musawi said that a memorandum was handed to the ambassador severely denouncing and protesting the assassination of major general Suleimani.
Earlier, the US Defence Department said that targeting major General Suleimani was ordered by President Trump.
K.Q.