On Monday (Jan. 6) the new commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Quds Force, Esmail Ghaani, consoled a reporter for IRIB News state television who demanded he “make a promise to the “general of our hearts” and offer words of “revenge” for Qassem Soleimani’s death in a drone strike by US forces in Iraq last Thursday.
GHAANI was interviewed at Tehran Airport upon the arrival of Qassem Soleimani’s coffin. The clip was downloaded and translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).
IRIB: Make a promise to General Soleimani, the general of our hearts. My condolences. He was your old friend and brother-in-arms.
GHAANI: In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate. Our first promise is to continue the path of the martyr Soleimani with the same determination and with the help of God.
We rely on God, and in response to his martyrdom, we will take many measures to remove the American presence from the region, and we will continue the movement to bring about the global rule of the Hidden Imam. None of us will accept anything less than that. With the support of the Leader, this will be achieved, inshallah.
IRIB: General, the public also wants a promise of revenge. This is the demand of the people.
GHAANI: A promise of revenge . . . The promise to avenge his death was given by God. The main avenger is God. Obviously, some actions will be taken.
