With nuclear talks “not going well” and United States President Joe Biden’s resolve judged to be weak, Iran has stepped up threats and attacks in many parts of the world.
In the last three weeks, Iran and its proxies have been responsible for attacks in Yemen, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Gaza Strip, and Israel. Emboldened, Iran also attacked U.S. convoys and barracks in Iraq.
And on the anniversary of the U.S. strike that killed noted terrorist leader, Qassem Soleimani, Iran threatened the assassination of former President Donald Trump and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The threat comes in the form of an animated video, which was part of a contest sponsored by the Iranian government to commemorate the death of Soleimani, former commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG) Quds Force.
Soleimani, who Ayatollah Ali Khamenei once called a “living martyr of the revolution,” is viewed by much of the world as a terrorist and ruthless killer.
Titled “Revenge Is Definite,” the video shows Pompeo and Trump being targeted for assassination by a drone while playing golf at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
Iran’s state-controlled Tasnim News Agency reports that Brigadier General Esmaeil Qaani delivered “a speech to a ceremony in Mashhad” on the anniversary of the “martyrdom” of Soleimani.
Qaani thundered: “We will prepare ground for the hard revenge against the U.S. from within their homes, as we do not need to be present as supervisors everywhere, wherever is necessary we take revenge against Americans by the help of people on their side and within their own homes without our presence.”
“From within their homes.” Qaani reiterated, before ending his speech.
The Times of Israel reported: “The video mirrored a propaganda poster last year also showing Trump on a golf course, calling for revenge for Soleimani’s slaying.”
This week, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki was asked if Iran has made new “threats” against American interests, “in particular against Trump officials who were involved in the Soleimani strike.”
Psaki replied: “Well, I’m not going to get into intelligence here, from the podium. But we’ve certainly seen concerning public rhetoric from Iranian officials about individuals from previous administrations, even before sanctions from this weekend, and that’s unacceptable.”
Threats from Iran are common. In a recent interview, IRGC Deputy Commander-in-Chief Admiral Ali Fadavi said that Iran would strike the U.S when the time is right.
The Daily Wire reports the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) intercepted Fadavi’s remarks, which some say illustrate Iran’s thinking toward the United States:
“This is the status of the Americans, this is the status of the enemies of Allah, and this is the status of those who stand with the Axis of Falsehood. We do not have the slightest doubt that at the right time, when we strike America — the Great Satan — and its Zionist followers, we will strike them with great force.”
“If the Zionists do something stupid and take a step against us, whether big or small, we will see this as a sign that Allah decreed that we should be attacked so that we could retaliate,” Favadi continued, before later adding, “This would mean the annihilation of the Zionists. It is a fact that the Zionists will go away much faster than the time frame determined by the leader. Soon we will witness the annihilation of the Americans and their dominance over the world, and specifically over this region. Soon we will see them leave the region. This will definitely happen.”
Following recent threats and attacks on American interests in Iraq and Syria, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan warned Iran of “severe consequences” if attacks continue.
“Make no mistake,” he said. “The United States of America will protect and defend its citizens. This includes those serving the United States now and those who formerly served.”
He added: “Americans…are united in our resolve against threats and provocations. We are united in defense of our people.”
Since Sullivan’s statement, Iran launched missiles against America’s interests in Bagdad’s Green Zone region.
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