Referring to the U.S. operation that killed the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps' (IRGC) former Chief Commander of the Qods Force, Major General Qassem Soleimani, the Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said the Americans "hit so hard that we are left with only one arm."
In a speech at a public ceremony on Monday, September 28, Zarif commemorated Soleimani as "ISIS' enemy number one," adding that the deadly operation was proof of the Americans' "cowardice and savagery."
On January 3, 2020, a U.S. drone hit Soleimani's car and immediately killed him outside of Baghdad International Airport.
U.S. government officials, including President Donald Trump, have repeatedly defended Soleimani's killing, describing the fallen General as the world's number one terrorist.
Other Iranian officials previously referred to the operation as a reflection of the Americans' fear of facing Soleimani on the battlefield.
However, some social media users have interpreted Zarif's remarks as somehow praising the U.S.' operational might.
Iranian authorities have repeatedly vowed to revenge Soleimani's death.
On September 19, the Chief Commander of the IRGC, Major General Hossein Salami, promised that Iran would carry out a "serious" retaliation if the U.S. military harms a single Iranian.
In a speech, Salami vowed, "Mr. Trump! Our revenge for martyrdom of our great General is obvious, serious, and real."
"If a strand of hair comes off an Iranian head, we'll blow away all your fluff," he added.
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