Iran Chamber of Commerce has denounced General Ghasem Soleimani’s assassination by the United States, calling it an “unforgivable crime”.
“Four decades of sincere and courageous efforts in defense of Iran’s territory and glory of Islam, have awarded him with martyrdom,” Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture said in a statement.
Representing Iran’s private sector, the institution called Martyr Soleimani a “national heor” and dubbed his assassination as “unlawful act” and “unforgivable crime” of the United States administration.
General Soleimani, the head of IRGC's Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis were assassinated on Friday morning in the United States' airstrike on their convoy in Baghdad airport.
The Pentagon said in a statement that the attack was carried out on the order of US President Donald Trump.
Leader vows 'harsh revenge'
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said those who assassinated IRGC Quds Force Commander Major General Qassem Soleimani must await a harsh revenge.
In a statement on Friday, Ayatollah Khamenei said the “cruelest people on earth” assassinated the “honorable” commander who “courageously fought for years against the evils and bandits of the world.”
His demise will not stop his mission, but the criminals who have the blood of General Soleimani and other martyrs of the Thursday night attack on their hands must await a harsh revenge, the Leader added.
“Martyr Soleimani is an international figure of the Resistance, and all the devotees of Resistance are now his avengers,” Ayatollah Khamenei said.
"All the friends and foes must know that the path of Jihad of the Resistance will continue with double motivation, and a definite victory awaits those who fight in this auspicious path," the Leader said.
“The demise of our selfless and dear general is bitter, but the continued fight and achievement of the final victory will make life bitterer for the murderers and criminals,” he added.
In his statement, the Leader also offered condolences to the Iranian nation and General Soleimani’s family, and declared three days of national mourning.
Rouhani: Iran, more determined now
Following the Leader’s remarks, President Hassan Rouhani strongly condemned the attack, and said the US assassination will make Iran and other free nations more determined to stand against Washington.
“The martyrdom of the great commander of Islam and Iran, and the courageous commander of the Quds Force, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, along with some of his companions especially the great fighter Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, by the aggressive and criminal US broke the heart of the entire nation of Iran and regional nations,” President Rouhani said in a Friday statement.
The assassination “doubled the determination of the great nation of Iran and other free nations to stand against and resist the excessive demands of the US and to defend the Islamic values,” he added.
“There is no doubt that this cowardly and evil move is another sign of the US’ desperation, inability and failure in the region, and the hatred felt by the regional nations toward this criminal regime,” Rouhani noted.
“The great nation of Iran and other free nations of the region will take revenge for this heinous crime against the criminal US,” he warned.
Zarif: US bears responsibility for consequences
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also strongly condemned US assassination of IRGC Quds Force Commander Major General Qassem 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 US' 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 US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism,” Zarif warned.