Soleimani a ‘national hero, source of pride for all Muslims'

“General Soleimani not only was a national hero, but also, he was the source of pride for all regional countries and the whole Muslim Ummah,” Rouhani also said at the Cabinet session on Wednesday, on the threshold of the martyrdom anniversary of the top anti-terror commander, who was assassinated by US terrorist at Baghdad Airport on January 3.

The president pointed out that “the assassination of Martyr Soleimani was revenge against the Islamic Republic and all the independent countries in the region… A revenge against the great nations that stood against the US and Zionists’ conspiracies.”

Rouhani stressed that US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo are on top of the list of perpetrators involved in the heinous terror attack, saying, “They did not want the ISIL terrorists’ issue to end like this.”

“ISIL was a mercenary of the Zionists and the Americans. When they were hit, the Israelites gave them weapons wherever they needed.”

He said, “The Zionists and the US, are the ones who take advantage of turmoil and insecurity in the region.”

"No one benefits from the insecurity of Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Afghanistan except the Zionists.”

Rouhani said the enemies tried to eliminate the number one man in the fight against terrorism, but they made him eternal in history.

“The resistance continues to work with the same enthusiasm and even more power.”

The president, addressing the perpetrators of the assassination, said, “You cut off the arms of our commander, we will cut off your leg from the region.”

He said the end of Trump’s era is one of the effects of this shameful and stupid act, adding, "In a few days, the ruling time of this savage and crazy murderer will end and the whole history and his regime will go to the dustbin of history."