Iran Threatens to Retaliate Against America as Soleimani Replacement Vows Revenge

Iran Threatens to Retaliate Against America as Soleimani Replacement Vows Revenge
Gen. Esmail Qaani speaks in a meeting in Tehran, Iran on Nov. 5, 2016. Mohammad Ali Marizad/Tasnim News Agency via AP
Zachary Stieber
Updated:
Esmail Qaani, the replacement for the Iranian regime’s General Qassem Soleimani, said at Soleimani’s funeral over the weekend that Iran would avenge Soleimani’s death as another military official threatened to target United States assets.

A U.S. airstrike took out Soleimani and other Iranian officials in Baghdad early Jan. 2.

Thousands attended Soleimani’s funeral, during which the regime’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly crying as he prayed over the caskets of those who were killed. Soleimani’s daughter, Zeinab, was among the speakers at the funeral.

“Families of the American soldiers in western Asia have witnessed America’s humiliation in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Yemen and Palestine wars, and will spend their days waiting for the death of their children,” she said Monday, according to a translation from the Associated Press.

Two military leaders also added new verbal threats.

Protesters chant anti-U.S. slogans during a demonstration against the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, close to United States' consulate in Istanbul on Jan. 5, 2020. (Lefteris Pitarakis/AP Photo)
Protesters chant anti-U.S. slogans during a demonstration against the killing of Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, close to United States' consulate in Istanbul on Jan. 5, 2020. Lefteris Pitarakis/AP Photo
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, left, awards Iran's Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan with the Medal of Honor for his role in the implementation of a nuclear deal with world powers, in Tehran on Feb. 8, 2016. (Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images)
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, left, awards Iran's Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan with the Medal of Honor for his role in the implementation of a nuclear deal with world powers, in Tehran on Feb. 8, 2016. Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images
Maj. Gen. Hossein Dehghan, the primary military adviser to Khamenei, told CNN that Iran would not use Iran-backed militias for the next strike, but would strike directly against U.S. “military sites.”

“It might be argued that there could be proxy operations. We can say America, Mr. Trump, has taken action directly against us—so we take direct action against America,” he said. “Our reaction will be wise, well considered and in time, with decisive deterrent effect.”

Dehghan claimed that America “started the war,” adding: “The only thing that can end this period of war is for the Americans to receive a blow that is equal to the blow they have inflicted. Afterward they should not seek a new cycle.”

Responding to President Donald Trump’s threat to target Iranian cultural sites, Dehghan said: “If he says 52 we say 300—and they are accessible to us. No American military staff, no American political center, no American military base, no American vessel will be safe.”

Qaani, Soleimani’s replacement as head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, on Monday told state television that there would be retaliatory actions taken.

“God the almighty has promised to get his revenge, and God is the main avenger. Certainly actions will be taken,” Qaani said, according to the Associated Press.

A photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister's Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike, in Baghdad, Iraq, early on Jan. 2, 2020. (Iraqi Prime Minister's Press Office, via AP)
A photo released by the Iraqi Prime Minister's Press Office shows a burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport following an airstrike, in Baghdad, Iraq, early on Jan. 2, 2020. Iraqi Prime Minister's Press Office, via AP
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive at the White House on Jan. 5, 2020 in Washington. The Trumps were returning from spending the holidays at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Bach, Florida after last week’s U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian military leader, Major Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump arrive at the White House on Jan. 5, 2020 in Washington. The Trumps were returning from spending the holidays at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Bach, Florida after last week’s U.S. drone strike that killed Iranian military leader, Major Gen. Qassem Soleimani. Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Trump said on Twitter Saturday that the United States would target Iranian sites, including cultural sites, if Iran attacks the United States again.

“Iran is talking very boldly about targeting certain USA assets as revenge for our ridding the world of their terrorist leader who had just killed an American, & badly wounded many others, not to mention all of the people he had killed over his lifetime, including recently hundreds of Iranian protesters,” Trump said, referring to Soleimani.

“He was already attacking our Embassy, and preparing for additional hits in other locations. Iran has been nothing but problems for many years. Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!”

Trump reiterated his position to reports on Air Force One on Sunday, promising “major retaliation” if Iran conducts another attack.

“They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn’t work that way,” Trump said.

Zachary Stieber
Zachary Stieber
Senior Reporter
Zachary Stieber is a senior reporter for The Epoch Times based in Maryland. He covers U.S. and world news. Contact Zachary at [email protected]
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