Skip to main content

Soleimani's replacement vows revenge for his killing

The replacement for assassinated Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani has vowed revenge on US officials who were behind the killing.
Iranian Quds force commander Esmail Ghaani speaks during a ceremony on the occasion of the first anniversary of death of former Iran's Quds force commander Qasem Soleimani in Tehran, on Jan. 1, 2021.

Quds Force commander for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Brig. Gen. Esmail Ghaani, who replaced the assassinated Qasem Soleimani, has vowed revenge for his killing.

Speaking at an event commemorating the two-year anniversary of Soleimani's assassination on Jan. 3, 2020, by a US drone strike ordered by former President Donald Trump, Ghaani said, “We will get revenge that you will not forget for the rest of your life.” Talking about Trump and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who advocated for the strike behind the scenes, Ghaani said, “All of the criminals who are on the scene, from the criminal US president to all of those behind the crime of the assassination of Soleimani, are under our magnifying glass.” 

Ghaani added, “We do not have the style of [US] criminals, with divine power; we have our own style of revenge.”

Ghaani said that one of Iran’s and Soleimani’s goals was the removal of US troops from the region, which is currently happening. He said that US troop presence at one point was 150,000 — he didn’t specify when — but that today, according to US numbers, it is 2,500. He added, “But the honorable people of Iraq and Soleimani’s friends will not even tolerate this amount.”

Soleimani was assassinated along with Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis at Baghdad International Airport. On the anniversary of the killings, two suicide drones were sent toward the Ain al-Asad air base, which houses US forces. 

Ghaani also said that Iran’s policies in the region would not just continue but become more determined due to Soleimani’s assassination. Addressing US officials, Ghaani said, “You have not understood the meaning of martyrdom. You think that martyring [Soleimani] will stop our path? If you had the smallest understanding, you would understand that [the path of] martyr Soleimani is stronger and firmer than commander Soleimani.” 

While Iran vows revenge against the United States in response to the Soleimani assassination, Iranian officials are in negotiations with European countries to remove US sanctions on Iran. The negotiations, taking place in Vienna, are designed to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which was signed in 2015 and which the United States exited in 2015. As a result of the US exit and reapplication of sanctions, Iran increased parts of its nuclear program. The talks are taking place between the P4+1. The so-called E3 of the UK, France and Germany are indirectly representing the United States, which Iran has refused to allow to participate due to its exit and the sanctions. 

The talks are now being led by the Ebrahim Raisi administration, which has vowed to take a harder line in these talks. While the talks kicked off with a rough start, US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Tuesday that there has been “modest progress” on the nuclear talks. The United States has repeatedly warned that if the deal is not revived, it will have to resort to other measures. On the front page of the newspaper Iran, which operates under the Raisi administration, was the headline “No to arbitrary deadlines.”

Join hundreds of Middle East professionals with Al-Monitor PRO.

Business and policy professionals use PRO to monitor the regional economy and improve their reports, memos and presentations. Try it for free and cancel anytime.

Already a Member? Sign in

Free

The Middle East's Best Newsletters

Join over 50,000 readers who access our journalists dedicated newsletters, covering the top political, security, business and tech issues across the region each week.
Delivered straight to your inbox.

Free

What's included:
Our Expertise

Free newsletters available:

  • The Takeaway & Week in Review
  • Middle East Minute (AM)
  • Daily Briefing (PM)
  • Business & Tech Briefing
  • Security Briefing
  • Gulf Briefing
  • Israel Briefing
  • Palestine Briefing
  • Turkey Briefing
  • Iraq Briefing
Expert

Premium Membership

Join the Middle East's most notable experts for premium memos, trend reports, live video Q&A, and intimate in-person events, each detailing exclusive insights on business and geopolitical trends shaping the region.

$25.00 / month
billed annually

Become Member Start with 1-week free trial
What's included:
Our Expertise AI-driven

Memos - premium analytical writing: actionable insights on markets and geopolitics.

Live Video Q&A - Hear from our top journalists and regional experts.

Special Events - Intimate in-person events with business & political VIPs.

Trend Reports - Deep dive analysis on market updates.

Text Alerts - Be the first to get breaking news, exclusives, and PRO content.

All premium Industry Newsletters - Monitor the Middle East's most important industries. Prioritize your target industries for weekly review:

  • Capital Markets & Private Equity
  • Venture Capital & Startups
  • Green Energy
  • Supply Chain
  • Sustainable Development
  • Leading Edge Technology
  • Oil & Gas
  • Real Estate & Construction
  • Banking

We also offer team plans. Please send an email to pro.support@al-monitor.com and we'll onboard your team.

Already a Member? Sign in

Start your PRO membership today.

Join the Middle East's top business and policy professionals to access exclusive PRO insights today.

Join Al-Monitor PRO Start with 1-week free trial