Qassem Soleimani: The Unique Symbol of Iranians

Following Martyr Qassem Soleimani’s assassination on January 3, 2020, Western analysts incorrectly predicted that the Islamic Republic would be further weakened as a result of its unfavourable social and economic conditions and that it would lose influence not only at home but also throughout the Middle East. General Qassem Soleimani’s martyrdom came just two months after anti-Iranian terrorists and US-backed opposition turned a peaceful gathering of Iranians protesting a hike in gasoline prices into violent riots and street brawls, in which several citizens were injured and some killed, and these incidents provided fodder for Western media to portray an unrealistic and inaccurate picture of Iran. Few mercenaries who infiltrated the crowds tore the Iranian flag during the Novomber 2019 disturbances. In reaction to the shameful burning of the Iranian flag, Haj Qassem Soleimani remarked, “…thousands of my comrades [in the war with Iraq] were martyred to preserve every square meter of our fatherland. Witnessing an ignorant individual burn the Iranian flag saddened me much. I wish I had been burnt ten times instead of the Iranian flag since countless of heroes were sacrificed to raise that flag high and aloft.” The Islamic Republic of Iran was in a tough economic situation as a result of Western sanctions and trade restrictions, and the riots posed a severe danger to the Iranian people’s unity and integrity. Meanwhile, the Western media continued to exaggerate the situation, predicting that Iran’s Islamic Republic will be overthrown in the near future. In actuality, the western media erroneously equated a small number of dangerous agitators to the entire Iranian nation. In the midst of all of this, Generals Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandis, as well as their companions, were assassinated near Baghdad Airport on Donald Trump’s instructions. Following General Soleimani’s martyrdom, Westerners dreamed that Iran would soon face renewed upheavals, making it easier to paralyze the country. However, the unprecedented participation of Iranian citizens of diverse cultural inclinations and economic backgrounds at the funerals of resistance martyrs in Iraq and Iran shattered the sinister schemes of imperialists and their Zionist mad-dogs. Martyr Soleimani’s main interests throughout his life were the protection of the Islamic Republic and the dignity and unity of the Iranian people. Despite his busy schedule, he was always present among the people, and millions of Iranians paid tribute to Soleimani following his martyrdom. The massive throngs of people who gathered in Ahvaz, Mashhad, Tehran, and Kerman for Martyr Soleimani’s funeral not only indicated that there was no split or strife in the aftermath of the November tragedy and that Americans had been failed to achieve their agendas.