Iran threat: Soleimani’s successor pledges ‘manly’ revenge against ‘cowardly’ USA

Iran‘s Soleimani was assassinated when the United States targeted his convoy close to Baghdad International Airport on January 3. Mr Ghaani, 62, said: “They were not man enough to face Haj Qassem on the battlefield. “In the most cowardly manner, they martyred our highest-ranking commander.

“But thanks to God, and the efforts of all freedom-seeking men of the world who seek for his blood to be avenged, we will strike back at the enemy in a manly way.”

When announcing Ghaani as Soleimani’s replacement, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called the new leader “one of the most prominent commanders” with regards to his service to Iran.

He added: “We promise to continue down martyr Soleimani’s path as firmly as before with help of God, and in return for his martyrdom we aim to get rid of America from the region.”

When he was first elected as the new leader, Ghaani said: “God the almighty has promised to get his revenge, and God is the main avenger. Certainly actions will be taken.”

President Donald Trump has said he killed Soleimani as he claimed the military leader was plotting to attack US interested in the Middle East.

The killing also came after an Iranian-backed proxy militia killed an American contractor in Iraq.

According to Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, Ghaani would be at risk of suffering the same fate as his predecessor if he were to kill Americans.

SEE MORE: Iran LOSING CONTROL as protesters secretly celebrate Soleimani’s death

Iran responded to the killing by launching missiles at US targets in Iraq.

US envoy Brian Hook said: “If Ghaani follows the same path of killing Americans then he will meet the same fate”.

“This isn’t a new threat. The president has always said that he will always respond decisively to protect American interests.

“I think the Iranian regime understands now that they cannot attack America and get away with it.”

Ghaani has called on Kataib Hezbollah to resist US presence in the region in an attempt to pan out their revenge on the US.

It is likely that the new leader Ghaani will continue Soleimani’s policy of trying to export Iranian influence throughout the Middle East.

The strike which killed Soleimani worsened tensions between the US and Iraq.

Weeks after the strike, the Iranians retaliated with a missile attack on the US.

The Pentagon said in a statement after the killing: “The US military has taken decisive defensive action to protect US personnel abroad by killing Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force.”

source: express.co.uk