Iran Threatens Revenge Against Trump for Soleimani Assassination

Iranian Brigadier-General Iraj Masjedi, a senior commander in the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), has issued a stark warning to US President-elect Donald Trump, demanding "revenge" and prosecution for his role in the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani. Masjedi's comments come just days before the fifth anniversary of the US drone strike that killed Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC’s Quds Force, on January 3, 2020.

Masjedi called Soleimani "a symbol and key figure in the fight against terrorists" and claimed that by ordering the assassination, Trump had served "the greatest service to the terrorist movement." Soleimani was widely seen as a central figure in Iran's military and foreign operations, particularly in the Middle East, where he played a crucial role in supporting various proxy groups and militias.

On the same day, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei also paid tribute to Soleimani, calling him a "martyr" and emphasizing his strategy to "revive the Resistance Front." Khamenei's remarks were made during a meeting with families of Iranian "martyrs" and veterans, highlighting the continuing reverence for Soleimani's legacy in Iran.

The timing of these statements, just before the anniversary of Soleimani’s death, underscores the ongoing tension between Iran and the US over the killing of the general. It also signals Iran's intent to retaliate and continue its confrontational stance toward the US, especially under the incoming administration.

In a related development, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke about the potential for renewed nuclear negotiations under President Trump’s leadership. Araghchi stated that if the US resumed a path of "pressure," Iran would respond in kind, but if the US pursued "fair, just and dignified negotiations," Iran would reciprocate. He also hinted that if talks failed to materialize, Iran would continue its nuclear program unabated, as it has done in recent years.