Khamenei’s advisor calls on Iraq to prosecute Soleimani’s assassins
The Senior advisor to the Leader of Islamic Revolution for International Affairs Ali Akbar Velayati. Photo: AP
Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) – The Senior advisor to the Leader of Islamic Revolution for International Affairs, Ali Akbar Velayati, called on the Iraqi judiciary on Wednesday to prosecute the assassins of Quds Force commander, Qasem Soleimani, in international courts.
Velayati’s call took place as Iraq is the country where this crime was committed, according to Fars News Agency.
“The terrorist operation carried out by the United States to assassinate Soleimani, who was invited by the Iraqi government to travel to Iraq, is a flagrant violation of international laws and is considered a public crime according to the Charter of the International Criminal Court, and the perpetrators can be prosecuted in that court,” Velayati said.
Velayati explained that this crime violates international laws, expecting that the Iraqi judiciary will work on the issuance of a fair judgment against the assassins of Soleimani, Fars News Agency mentioned.
Velayati stressed that Soleimani’s role in confronting the American strategic plans in the Middle East was an irreplaceable and unparalleled role, Fars News Agency added.
The U.S. army carried out a military operation in which Soleimani was assassinated near Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020.
The operation, in which Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis, chief of staff of the Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq, was also assassinated, led to an escalation of tension between the United States and Iran, which vowed strong revenge.
The Iranian army, a few days following the operation, responded by firing missiles at Ain Al-Assad base, the largest U.S. base in Iraq.