Iran's president on Tuesday vowed to avenge the killing of the country's top general on the third anniversary of his death, as the government rallied its supporters in mourning amid months of anti-government protests. Gen Qassem Soleimani, the architect of Iran's regional military activities, was killed in a US drone strike in neighbouring Iraq.
He is hailed as a national icon among supporters of Iran's theocracy, while the protesters have torn down billboards and defaced other images of him.
Addressing a ceremony marking the general's death, President Ebrahim Raisi said those behind it “should know that retaliation is obvious”, adding that “there will be no relief for murderers and accomplices”.
He said Soleimani had defeated “US hegemony” and praised him for his role in leading Iran-backed forces against the Islamic State extremist group. Soleimani was also mourned in neighbouring Iraq alongside Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, an Iraqi militia leader killed in the same strike. Iranian-backed militias make up the bulk of Iraq's state-supported Popular Mobilization Forces.
Iran responded to the killing of Soleimani by launching a barrage of missiles at US bases in Iraq, causing dozens of brain concussion injuries but no deaths among US soldiers stationed there. Iranian officials have repeatedly vowed to take further steps and imposed sanctions on individuals accused of taking part in the operation.
On Monday, Iran's state-linked Jam Jam newspaper published the names and photos of 51 Americans it said were involved in the strike and were “under the shadow of retaliation”. The list included several current and former senior US civilian and military officials as well as individuals who appeared to be soldiers involved in aircraft maintenance at regional bases.