IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

TEHRAN – Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Shamkhani has said Iran is resolved to stop the United States and its stooges from committing acts of terrorism and destabilizing the region and to eventually force a complete US troop withdrawal.

Speaking at a meeting with Afghan president’s national security advisor Hamdullah Mohib, in Tehran on Tuesday, Shamkhani said that the U.S. acts of insecurity in West Asia reached their peak with the “cowardly” assassination of top Iranian and Iraqi anti-terror commanders, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran is resolved to prevent the continuation of the terrorist, tension-fueling and destabilizing acts of the United States and its stooges and make them leave the region by exacting a severe revenge against those who ordered and perpetrated a crime that will go down in history,” he added.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Shamkhani referred to the threats facing both Iran and Afghanistan and their common interests, especially the need to stop the spread of terrorism and to restore stability and security in the region.

Warning of increased Daesh activity in Afghanistan and the dangers it posed to regional states, he called for collective vigilance and cooperation to fully eliminate “the cancerous tumor.”

Iran’s security chief also highlighted the Islamic Republic’s principal policy of strengthening good neighborliness. “Afghanistan has a special place in Iran’s foreign policy due to numerous commonalities that bond the two nations,” he said.

Shamkhani further stressed Iran’s firm support for the legitimate government of Afghanistan, underlining the need for enhanced Tehran-Kabul cooperation and interaction in political, economic and security areas.

Additionally, he expressed his satisfaction with the opening of the Khaf-Herat railroad and hoped that the project could play an effective role in promoting bilateral relations and improving the welfare of the Afghan people.

Mohib, for his part, voiced the readiness of the Afghan government and nation to boost cooperation with Iran, which he described as his second home.

He further appreciated the unwavering support and hospitality Iran has offered to the Afghan people over the past 40 years.

Later yesterday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif held talks with Mohib.

In the meeting, Foreign Minister Zarif said supporting the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan is the principled policy of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

He highlighted the necessity for the US withdrawal from Afghanistan, said, “We believe a comprehensive political solution with the presence of all Afghan groups will be the best guarantee for lasting peace in this country.”

He urged both Tehran and Kabul to enhance consultations at bilateral, regional and international levels.

Zarif expressed satisfaction with the inauguration of the Khaf-Herat railway which came on stream recently, and added the project will pave the way for closer cooperation between the two countries and facilitating connections with regions in the East.

“The Dogharoon crossing should be refurbished in order to boost mutual border cooperation,” Zarif underlined.

The Afghan official, in turn, presented a report on the latest developments pertaining to peace talks in his country, and appreciated Iran’s backing for the Afghan government and people.

He stressed the necessity of boosting political, economic and security cooperation.

The Afghan official also expressed hope linking routes such as the Khaf-Herat railway will further boost regional cooperation.

Among other topics on the agenda during the meeting were mutual cooperation on political, economic and security fronts, holding a meeting of the Iran-Afghanistan Joint Committee and following up on other ongoing projects as well as closer cooperation in the water sector.

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Iran’s latest cruise missile, dubbed “Martyr Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, which was test-fired in the first decade of month of Muharram is a cruise missile with the range of 1200 kilometers and if any point of Iran’s borders is being targeted by the missile it can destroy it, in other words, it increases range of Iran’s attacking power to 1200 kilometers.

IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

If we deliver this missile to Venezuela, this country can be safe for 1200 kilometers of any point of its border. If it is delivered to Lebanon, it can cover all the West Asia to Africa and even East European countries. Of course whether we sell it to Yemenis or not is also on the agenda for analyzing the ways of reinforcing the geopolitics. Only mass-production of this missile will guarantee Iran from any attack and threat. In the Persian Gulf all warships will be under the range of this missile.

One can consider the unveiling of this missile as a strategic achievement whose deterrent effects have been less noticed and discussed. Suppose the ground for responding to a U.S. mischief is prepared. Before the tension between Iran and the U.S. escalates, the U.S. Army takes back its warships 700 kilometers off Iran’s southern waters. Exactly what the Americans did a couple of months ago. Because in the most sensitive and critical condition, they had experienced that Iran’s long-range anti-ship missile was “Ya Ali” missile with the firing range of 700 kilometers and 98.5% accuracy.

Today and after unveiling the mass-production line of Al-Muhandis cruise missile with the firing range of 1200 kilometers, the U.S. warships have to increase their distance from Iran’s waters to 1200 kilometers in order to be safe from Iran’s missiles. So with such a long distance, their fighting power would definitely diminish because their F35c fighter jets, which are designed to take off from the aircraft carrier carriers, can fly for 2200 kilometers in the unarmed mode (without carrying bombs) and their range of flight in the fighting mode by carrying bombs is some 1000 kilometers.

So due to the 1200 kilometer distance of warships from Iran’s waters, such fighter jets have to fly some 2400 kilometers in order to reach Iran’s shores and return, and this is impossible and unimaginable for the fighter jets even in their unarmed mode.

The operational range of Iran’s missiles give Iran this possibility to have an upper hand in the probable military tensions in the region. Regardless of Iran’s enough full-scale deterrent military power, the country’s regional enemies either Saudi Arabia and recently the UAE and their Zionist, British and American allies are investing on creating domestic popular discontent in Iran and they have had considerable and huge investment on this issue.

In the Sunni-populated areas of Iran, they are trying to promote the idea of secession and in the central provinces, they are to make people discontent under the guise of seemingly nationalism. The virtual space today has been railed for toppling the regime and this seemingly aligned current is actually more aligned with the enemies’ tricks and intentions. But due to the revolutionary maturity and awareness of Iranian people, they are digging their own graves.

The penetrator with its act and behavior makes people know him very well and due to the sincere mourning in this decade of month of Muharram which will have the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)’s Household’s blessing, today Zeinab (A)-like patience has laid the ground for exposing the internal enemies and it is going to provide the ground for a valuable government to shape in 2021 by disgracing them.

 By: Hamid Reza Naghashian

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Who could commit the assassination of indefatigable mujahid, global symbol of resistance, Martyr Lieutenant General Hajj Qassem Soleimani at the suburbs of Baghdad Airport but a Daesh force? Who could but a Daesh assassinate a high-ranking commander and a brave mujahid like Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis?

IRAN NEWS POLITICAL DESK

Martyr Soleimani used to visit Iraq every few weeks and it was routine. He was a military advisor and respected by Iraqi officials. The scattered and burned documents with Syrian government letter head which were found near the body of Martyr Soleimani show that Martyr Soleimani was carrying messages from Syria to Iraq in his journey. Especially, this time Martyr Soleimani was on way to Iraq on a passenger plane and it is likely that enemies’ intelligence elements were able to trace the details of the trip. What can be called the assassination of Martyrs Soleimani and Al-Muhandis in Baghdad by another country? Is not it a humiliation for Iraqi people? Wasn’t it Mr. Donald Trump who once used to accuse Hillary Clinton and the Democrats of creating the Daesh (ISIS)?

Daesh forces were in control of the leader-less Iraq and their creators had lost control over them, and every day Daesh forces created some headache and crime in some Western country and it was Hashd al-Shaabi forces who came to the rescue of the country and stopped the Daesh forces.

Some American officials in the media used to say that the world should thank Hajj Soleimani for helping the world to get rid of savage Daesh forces, didn’t they?

One of the reasons behind Martyr Soleimani’s visit to Iraq was for coordination between Iraq and Syria against a plan that the Americans had plans to pave the ground for activities of the Daesh forces.

Appointment of Brigadier General Esmael Qa’ani as Martyr Soleimani replacement as the new commander of Quds Forces will definitely fill the gap of Martyr Soleimani in terms of military aspect and as the result of this appointment, we will soon see American forces fleeing the region.

The culture which has been nourished by Martyr Soleimani and his comrades in the region will soon see bigger victories for the resistance front flag-bearers who replace Martyr Soleimani.

If one thinks that by martyrdom of Soleimani the resistance will come to an end, he is either ignorant or biased.

Experiences that Martyr Soleimani have left behind in the Quds Forces because of his technical prudence and war engineering along with innovative plans are engrafted with blood. Good for Martyr Qassem Soleimani and his comrades. Congratulations for their martyrdom in this way. They should have been martyred by the most savage people of the world. Their bodies, arms and legs should have been dismembered to reflect the event of Karbala and their obedience to their guru and guide Qamar Bani Hashem who was martyred in Karbala event.

Do you really think that if Hajj Qassem with such unbelievable braveries died in a plane crash could have such a taste like this kind of martyrdom? Suppose Hajj Qassem was assassinated by the MKO members. Could it taste like this martyrdom?

Qassem Soleimani was martyred on the order of the U.S. President who waited about one hour to see Soleimani’s plane to land on Baghdad Airport in order to trace and target him with laser-guided missile in the soli of another country.

This will be a lasting history of innocence versus the Daesh-like crime whose credit goes to Hajj Qassem. I believe this way of martyrdom of Hajj Qassem Soleimani and his comrades shook the world. Some of the jolts haven been seen by me and you and some are still hidden and out of our sight. In return, as the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution said, a heavy punishment awaits the criminals and the least revenge for martyrdom of Soleimani and his comrades is the expulsion of the U.S. forces from the region.

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According To Iran News, In an extraordinary session on Sunday, the Iraqi parliament voted for a resolution requiring the government to order the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq.

The session came two days after a US drone strike on a convoy at Baghdad airport which assassinated Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.

“There is no need for the presence of American forces after defeating Daesh,” said Ammar al-Shibli, a lawmaker and member of the parliamentary legal committee.

“We have our own armed forces which are capable of protecting the country,” he said, Reuters reported.

During a massive funeral procession for Lt. Gen. Soleimani, the commander of the IRGC Quds Force, and al-Muhandis in Baghdad, al- Kadhimiya, Karbala and Najaf, hundreds of thousands of angry Iraqi mourners carried placards demanding an immediate expulsion of “US terrorists” from their country.

Expelling Iraqi troops had turned into a “national demand” after the terrorist attacks on the top Iranian and Iraqi military commanders.

Following the terrorist attack by the US, Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi had asked the parliament to make a decision based on Article 58 of the Iraqi constitution about the “illegal action” of the US army.

He said the US move was a violation of the Iraqi sovereignty and an affront to national pride.

He called the US act as a dangerous move which will trigger another devastating war in Iraq and the region.

Since the US terrorist attack, rival political leaders had been calling for the expulsion of US troops from Iraq in an unusual show of unity among factions.

Hadi al-Amiri, the top candidate to succeed al-Muhandis, repeated his call for US troops to leave Iraq on Saturday during an elaborate funeral procession for those killed in the attack.

Iraqi Parliament Speaker Salim al-Jabouri has expressed anger over the US attack on the military convoy, saying, “What happened around Baghdad airport was an open violation of the Iraqi territorial sovereignty and violation of international agreements.”

He added, “Any security and military operation should be with the agreement of the government.”

Faleh al-Fayad, Iraq’s national security advisor, has also said it is the duty of the Iraqi government and judiciary to respond to the violation of Iraqi sovereignty.

Also, Abdelkarim Khalaf, spokesman for the Iraqi Armed Forces has said, “these strikes represent a treacherous stab in the back.”

The Iraqi move to expel US troops from the country is considered as the first political victory for Iran that has promised “hard revenge”.

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According To Iran News, Hundreds of thousands of Iranians have taken to the streets to call for revenge after U.S. assassination of IRGC Quds Force commander General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad.

Massive crowds rallied in many cities across the country to display their resolve to avenge General Soleimani, who was assassinated along several others, including Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy chief of the Iraqi pro-government Popular Mobilization Units (PMU).

The protesters expressed solidarity with General Soleimani’s family and echoed an statement by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, who earlier in the day vowed a “severe revenge” in response to the move by the U.S. military.

In capital Tehran, tens of thousands of people attending the Friday prayers held a rally after the event, carrying signs that warned the United States, Israel and their regional allies of harsh consequences.

Thousands of people gathered at General Soleimani’s house in the provincial capital of Kerman, where he used to hold annual mourning ceremonies for Shia Imams on their martyrdom anniversaries.

Hojjatoleslam Hassan Alidadi, Kerman’s Friday imam, said the resistance front will even the score with the US.

“The outcome of this bloodshed is the end of U.S. military presence in the region and the resistance front’s final victory over Israel,” he said.

Similar events were held in Qom, Tabriz, Lorestan and other cities.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif strongly condemned U.S. assassination of IRGC Quds Force Commander Major General Soleimani, saying it will strengthen the resistance movement across the world.

“The malice and stupidity of the terrorist American forces in assassinating General Soleimani, the hero and commander of fight against terrorism and extremism, will undoubtedly make stronger the tree of resistance in the region and the world,” Zarif said in a Friday statement.

The top diplomat said Foreign Ministry will use its political, legal, and international capacities to implement decisions made by Iran’s Supreme National Security Council in order to hold the criminal and terrorism regime of the US accountable for this blatant crime.

Zarif had earlier tweeted that “the U.S.’ act of international terrorism, targeting & assassinating General Soleimani— THE most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al—is extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation.”

“The U.S. bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism,” Zarif warned.

The U.S.’ act of international terrorism, targeting & assassinating General Soleimani—THE most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al—is extremely dangerous & a foolish escalation.

The U.S. bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism.

The comments came after Major General Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), were assassinated in US airstrikes in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

“The American and Israeli enemy is responsible for killing the mujahideen Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Qassem Soleimani,” said Ahmed al-Assadi, a PMU spokesman.

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According To Iran News, Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Major General Qassem Soleimani, and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), were martyred in US airstrikes in the Iraqi capital Baghdad.

The IRGC announced in a statement on Friday morning that Major General Soleimani and al-Muhandis were martyred in the attack carried out by US helicopters.

The Iraqi pro-government group also confirmed the incident.

“The deputy head of the Hashed, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and head of the Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani, were killed in a US strike that targeted their car on the Baghdad International Airport road,” it said a statement on Friday.

“The American and Israeli enemy is responsible for killing the mujahideen Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and Qassem Soleimani,” said Ahmed al-Assadi, a PMU spokesman.

The group had earlier said that its public relations director Mohammed Reza al-Jaberi and four other members of the group were also killed after three Katyusha rockets struck a military base next to Baghdad International Airport in the Iraqi capital.

The media bureau of the voluntary forces – also known by the Arabic word Hashd al-Sha’abai – described the early Friday morning attack as a “cowardly US bombing”, Press TV reported.

The rockets landed near the air cargo terminal, burning two vehicles and injuring several people, the Iraqi Interior Ministry’s Security Media Cell said in an earlier statement.

Shortly after the attack, US officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the strikes were carried out against two targets linked to Iran in Baghdad. The officials declined to give any further details.

Meanwhile, security sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that eight people were killed in the attack.

The development came as the United States military said on Sunday it had carried out strikes in western Iraq against Kataa’ib Hezbollah group, which is part of the pro-government PMU.

Iraqi security sources said at least 25 fighters were killed and at least 55 wounded following the air attacks.

Senior Iraqi officials also condemned the US attack against the Kataa’ib Hezbollah’s positions as a “violation of Iraqi sovereignty”

Caretaker Iraqi Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi called the move a “dangerous escalation that threatens the security of Iraq and the region” in a statement on Sunday.

Abdul Mahdi said US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper had called him about half an hour before the US raids to tell him of the US intentions to hit Kataib Hezbollah’s bases. He said he asked Esper to call off US plans.

Iraqi caretaker President Barham Salih also condemned the attack.

The US raids drew a wave of condemnation from officials and movements across the region, and triggered furious public protests outside the US embassy in Baghdad.

The Pentagon said the bombings were in response to attacks targeting American forces near the oil-rich northern Iraqi city of Kirkuk last week, which reportedly killed a US civilian contractor and injured four US service members, as well as two members of the Iraqi security forces. The US accused Kataa’ib Hezbollah group of being behind the attack.

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