Iranian mourners attend a funeral procession for senior commander Qassem Soleimani slain by the U.S. in Iraq on Friday, in Iranian capital of Tehran, Jan. 6, 2020. (Xinhua/Ahmad Halabisaz)
"Americans should know that their security and interests across the region are at risk and they will not remain immune to repercussions of the big crime," Iranian president Rouhani warned.
TEHRAN, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iranian President Hassan Rouhani warned on Tuesday that U.S. interests in the region are "in danger" following the assassination of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani.
Soleimani, former commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), was killed in a U.S. airstrike near the Baghdad International Airport in Iraq on Friday.
Iran has repeatedly warned the U.S. that it would take "severe revenge" over the murder of Soleimani, which Tehran called an "act of terrorism."
"If it was not for the great hero's (Soleimani) measures against Daesh (Islamic State), Europeans would have been facing big threats," Rouhani said during a telephone conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron.
"The Americans committed a big strategic mistake" by killing Soleimani, Rouhani said, adding that "Americans should know that their security and interests across the region are at risk and they will not remain immune to repercussions of the big crime."
The Iranian president also urged all countries to take "decisive stance against the U.S. terrorist attack."
For his part, Macron expressed his concerns about escalating conflicts in the region, adding that he was ready to help ease the tensions.
Also on Tuesday, Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Hossein Salami warned the U.S. on Tuesday that Iran will take "severe revenge" over its assassination of Qassem Soleimani.
"I say the last word at the beginning: we will take revenge," Salami said at the funeral of Soleimani in Iran's southern city of Kerman.
"We will take revenge, a revenge that will be tough, strong, decisive and finishing, and will make them regret," he said, adding that the U.S. forces will be expelled from the region. ■
