The ceremony was attended by IRGC Quds Force Commander Brigadier General Esmaeil Qa’ani and Judiciary Chief Ebrahim Raisi.
What follows are photos of the ceremony:
Iranian, Kuwaiti Foreign Ministers Discuss US ‘Suspicious’ Moves
During the phone call, the Iranian foreign minister elaborated on the Islamic Republic’s views regarding the establishment of comprehensive stability and security, without foreign interference and free from any tensions.
He also pointed to certain suspicious moves and acts of mischief by the United States in the region, and stressed that the responsibility for the consequences of any possible adventure will fall on Washington.
All US Bases in Region within Range of Iran’s Missiles: Leader’s Aide
“I saw it in the news that the Americans are on standby for the fear of (Iran’s) revenge, and have flown two B-52 bombers over the Persian Gulf for show,” Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan tweeted Thursday.
“All their military bases in the region are within the range of our missiles,” he said.
He also advised “those fired from the White House” not to “turn New Year into a tragedy for Americans.”
His comments came after the United States flew strategic bombers over the Persian Gulf on December 30, 2020 for the second time this month, fueling tensions in an already volatile region.
People Inside US May Avenge Soleimani’s Killing: Top General
Addressing a Friday ceremony to mark the first anniversary of General Soleimani’s assassination, General Qa’ani said “it is possible that some people inside your home (the US) would respond to your crime.”
He said after what the US did, they may find people all around the world who would be ready to take vengeance.
Qa’ani said the enemies of the Islamic Republic sought to target General Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis for thirty years, and finally the “filthiest man” was tempted by the Israeli regime and Saudi Arabia and made such an “unwise” move.
“The entire world will definitely condemn you. Those who committed this crime must know that all around the world, you may find a brave man who is ready to punish the cowards who did that,” he added.
General Soleimani, deputy commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and a number of their comrades were killed in a January drone attack, ordered by US President Donald Trump, near Baghdad International Airport.
In his Friday remarks, General Qa’ani stressed that the US mischievous acts in the region will not change the Resistance Front’s path.
Earlier in the day, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had warned about the US “acts of mischief” in a phone conversation with the Kuwaiti foreign minister.
Intelligence from Iraq Show US Seeking Pretext for War: Iran
Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a tweet that “intelligence from Iraq indicate plot to FABRICATE pretext for war.”
“Iran doesn’t seek war but will OPENLY and DIRECTLY defend its people, security and vital interests,” the foreign minister added.
Zarif also lashed out at US President Donald Trump for sending military aircraft to the Persian Gulf region and the Middle East.
“Instead of fighting COVID in US, Trump and cohorts waste billions to fly B52s and send armadas to OUR region,” the top diplomat added.
The United States flew strategic bombers over the Persian Gulf on December 30, 2020 for the second time this month, fueling tensions in an already volatile region.
Iran Condemns Yemen Airport Blasts
In a statement on Thursday, Saeed Khatibzadeh said, “Continued foreign aggression and occupation of Yemeni soil are the key contributors to instability as well as a lack of order and enforcement of law, and have jeopardized Yemen’s territorial integrity.”
“Such acts of violence and the killing of civilians are the result of the mentality of aggressors and occupiers of Yemen, who, in the name of a self-styled coalition, have destroyed the whole of Yemen, and, with their bellicose and secessionist views, have perpetuated the most heinous human crisis in Yemen,” he added.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran condemns the aggressors’ acts of aggression and war, and stresses a political solution to the crisis, and once again asks all parties to end the futile conflict by returning to political negotiations,” Khatibzadeh underlined.
Blasts struck an airport in Aden on December 30, 2020, after a plane carrying a self-proclaimed government backed by Saudi Arabia landed from Riyadh.
“At least two explosions were heard as the cabinet members were leaving the aircraft,” according to media reports.
A local security source said three mortar shells had landed on the airport’s hall. Sporadic gunfire was also heard.
The blasts left at least 10 people dead and dozens more injured.
Yemen’s self-proclaimed information minister Moammar Al-Eryani said on Twitter that all the members of the Saudi-backed cabinet were “fine”.
Iran’s Oil Revenues Must Be Invested in High-Tech Industries: Rouhani
In comments on Wednesday, President Hassan Rouhani noted oil earnings should be used to further develop technological developments in the country.
“High-tech companies and developments can overhaul the country. We should spend oil revenues on the development of the nanotechnology industry,” he said.
“We should use oil revenues to develop biotechnology, information and communications technology, the aerospace industry, etc. We should bring about an overhaul in the domain of new technologies. We should both reach self-sufficiency inside the country and be able to export our products,” said the president.
“What is right is to sell oil to further develop nanotechnology, biotechnology and aerospace technology,” he said.
The president defended the performance of his administration in terms of boosting nanotechnological developments.
“Income from our nanotechnology industry increased almost seven-fold from 2013 to 2019, and hopefully the situation will be better this year,” he said.
“The income increased seven times in as many years. According to authorities at the Nanotechnology Committee, if it weren’t for the sanctions, we would be able to export at least $1 billion worth of nanotechnological products in 2025,” President Rouhani said.
“Of course, we are exporting such products even now, but we are hamstrung by sanctions,” he underlined.
Iran Congratulates Havana on Anniversary of Cuban Revolution
In a message on Thursday, President Rouhani expressed hope that Tehran and Havana will work together closely to enhance mutual ties.
“I congratulate Your Excellency and the people of your country on the anniversary of the glorious Cuban Revolution,” read the message.
“I hope through mutual cooperation and by tapping into existing potential, we will see further promotion of relations in all areas of mutual interest,” the message read.
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt conducted by Fidel Castro’s revolutionary 26th of July Movement and its allies against the military dictatorship of Cuban President Fulgencio Batista.
The revolution began in July 1953, and continued sporadically until the rebels finally ousted Batista on 31 December 1958, replacing his government.
Coronavirus Kills 128 More Iranian People: Ministry
In a press briefing on Thursday, the Ministry’s spokeswoman Sima-Sadat Lari reported 6,390 new cases of COVID-19 infection, raising the total number of cases to 1,225,143.
So far, Lari added, 988,838 patients have recovered from the disease or been discharged from the hospital.
Lari said 5,039 patients are also in critical conditions caused by more severe infection.
The spokeswoman noted that 7,620,667 COVID-19 tests have been taken across the country so far.
She said currently the four cities of Sari, Amol, Ramsar and Northern Savadkooh are in the “red” zone, 205 cities are in the “orange zone” and 243 are in the “yellow zone” in terms of coronavirus outbreak.
Trump to Be Ousted Not Just from Power, but from Life: Rouhani
In comments on Thursday, President Hassan Rouhani said Trump has committed many other cruel acts as well, but the January assassination of the Iranian commander will never be forgiven.
“I have said it once before, and say it again. Trump is like Saddam [Hussein]. Saddam Hussein imposed war on us for eight years, and was toppled at the end. Trump imposed an economic war on us for three years. In the coming weeks, Trump, too, will be ousted not only from power, but from life,” he said.
“Trump will go down in history as a discredited man because of the crimes and cruel acts he committed. One of his unforgivable cruelties was to assassinate General Qassem Soleimani and [top Iraqi commander] Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis,” he said.
“He committed many crimes and killed many people. But these two cases are ones which we will never forget. They should know that we were bereaved by these assassinations, and we will remain bereaved forever,” said the president.
“The regional nations and the Iranian nation will avenge these assassinations at the proper time,” said President Rouhani.
He said the brutal assassination of General Soleimani was a wrong move and will definitely be detrimental to the enemy.
He underlined the enemy should know that Iranian people as well as regional nations will continue their resistance and will move full steam ahead with more determination to secure their independence.
“Everybody has realized that as long as the Americans are in this region, this region will not see good days as desired, and the regional nations will, by God’s grace, expel these criminals as well as aggressors from the region one day,” he said.
