The Chief of Iran’s Quds Forces responded to US President Donald Trump’s threats in a speech on Thursday, by saying that if the US started a war, Iran would “destroy all that you possess”.
Major-General Qassem Suleimani – Chief Commander of the special forces of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard – warned the United States not to begin a conflict, replying to comments made by Trump earlier this week in which he threatened Iran.
“You will start this war but we will be the ones to impose its end. Therefore, you have to be careful about insulting the Iranian people and the president of our republic,” Iranian news channel Al Alam quoted him as saying.
“You know our power in the region and our capabilities in asymmetric war. We will act and we will work.”
Suleimani is considered one of Iran’s top military commanders, leading the elite Quds force completely responsible for secret military operations outside of Iranian country, including its all-around involvement in the war in Syria.
His comments come at a time in a series of back and forth threats between high ranking Iranian and American officials.
Earlier this week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani had clearly warned his US counterpart not to increase tensions by compelling Iran, saying a confrontation with the Islamic Republic would prove to be “mother of all wars”.
Those remarks were followed by aggressive comments from both President Trump and US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
Pompeo criticized Iran’s religious leaders as “hypocritical holy men” whom he said were more interested in safeguarding their pockets and spreading hardline views abroad than helping out their completely cash-strapped citizens.
Pompeo along with US National Security Adviser John Bolton have always used combative rhetoric against Iran since President Trump withdrew on May 8 from the 2015 deal to stop Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
President Trump followed those comments by tweeting at Iranian leader Rouhani, warning him that a declaration of war with the US would be disastrous for the country.
Tensions between Iran and the US have time and again risen after the US pulled out of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Before these exchanges, Rouhani hinted Iran may block regional oil exports if its own sales are stopped following the US’ withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear deal signed by world powers.
The hinting, which did not state the name of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, was in reaction to looming US sanctions and efforts by the Trump administration to prevent their countries from purchasing Iranian oil.
Following the US President Trump’s pullout from the nuclear agreement in May, Iran clearly said it was very much interested in keeping the whole deal alive, but only if the remaining powers apart from the US, can guarantee it will not face economic isolation under Washington’s sanctions.
Europe and other signatories of the deal completely oppose the US’ decision to leave the agreement and have vowed to find some ways of maintaining trade ties with Iran.
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