Qasem Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s Quds Force, a division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in charge of operations outside the country’s borders, gave what was billed as “a special speech” to the Assembly of Experts Sept. 1 to discuss regional matters. Parts of the speech were shared with Iranian news agencies by members of the assembly in attendance.
In an interview with Tasnim News Agency, Assembly of Experts member Hojat al-Islam Seyyed Mojtaba Taheri said that Soleimani’s speech focused on “Iraq, Syria, Yemen, America’s roles, the enemies of Islam and the presence of [the Islamic State] and takfiris in the region.”