"The enemies seek to hit a blow and damage us and our country's security through pressures and economic sanctions, and they use all their capacities to this end. But today, enemy's costs go higher to the very same degree that it poses threats."
-April 29, 2018, addressing a forum of Law Enforcement Police commanders and officials in Tehran. Soleimani is warning the U.S. that Iran will impose “costs” on the U.S. in response to its maximum pressure campaign.
"The enemy wants to make us sit to the negotiating table by economic pressures and such a negotiation is an instance of surrendering, but our people are vigilant and wise and believe that negotiation with the enemy under the present circumstances means complete surrendering and we will definitely not accept this humiliation."
- April 29, 2018, addressing a forum of Law Enforcement Police commanders and officials in Tehran.
“Come! We are waiting. I can stop you. Quds Force can stop you. You start this war, but we will finish it.”
-November 3, 2018, Instagram post responding to a Game of Thrones-inspired meme tweeted by President Trump warning Iran “Sanctions are Coming.”
“Gambler Trump! I alone will stand against you. We, the Iranian nation, have gone through tough events. You (may) begin a war, but it is us who will end it. Go ask your predecessors (about it). So stop threatening … us. We are ready to stand against you.”
-July 26, 2018 in a speech in the Iranian city of Hamedan
“You (Trump) threaten us with paying a price like few countries have ever paid. Trump, this is the language of night clubs and gambling halls.”
-July 26, 2018 in a speech in the Iranian city of Hamedan
“You arrogantly attacked Iraq with 160,000 troops and multiple times [military equipment] compared to what you used in Afghanistan, but what happened? Ask your then commander who was the person that he sent to me and asked ‘Is it possible for you to give us time [and] use your influence so that our soldiers would not be attacked by the Iraqi fighters in these few months until we exit this country?’ Have you forgotten that you provided adult diapers for your soldiers in tanks? Despite that you are currently threatening the great country of Iran? With what background do you threaten [us]?”
-July 26, 2018 in a speech in the Iranian city of Hamedan
“You know that this war will destroy all that you possess. You will start this war but we will be the ones to impose its end. Therefore you have to be careful about insulting the Iranian people and the president of our Republic.”
-July 26, 2018 in a speech in the Iranian city of Hamedan
“All these crimes have been designed and implemented by US leaders and organizations, according to the acknowledgment of the highest-ranking US official who is currently president of the United States; moreover, this scheme is still being modified and implemented by current American leaders.”
-November 21, 2017 in a letter to Supreme Leader Khamenei, alleging that the U.S. is behind the creation of ISIS and responsible for its conduct
"Obama has not done a damn thing so far to confront Daesh: doesn't that show that there is no will in America to confront it?"
-May 25, 2015 in a speech to former and current IRGC soldiers in the Iranian city of Kerman
“The Islamic Republic [Iran] is the only Islamic-based system governed by Islam, and the Zionists don’t dare attack us because of Hezbollah and Hamas’s strong base in the region.”
-February 22, 2019 speaking after Friday prayers
(Appropriate revenge for the assassination of Hezbollah’s former military chief Imad Mughniyeh is) “not launching one missile or killing one person, but the dismantling and uprooting of the baby-killing Zionist regime.”
-February 15, 2018 at a ceremony marking the 10-year anniversary of former Hezbollah military chief Imad Mughniyeh’s assassination
“Martyrdom for Palestine is the wish of any honorable Muslim.”
-July 30, 2014 in a letter condemning Israel’s conduct in the summer 2014 conflict with Gaza
“We will persist with victory until the land, the sky and the sea turn into hell for Zionists. The murderers and the mercenaries must know that we will not stop defending the resistance, not even for a moment.”
-July 30, 2014 in a letter condemning Israel’s conduct in the summer 2014 conflict with Gaza
“Damn those who have done you injustice and continue to do so. Damn any oppressor who has supported and continues to support this criminal regime (Israel), especially America, which leads this tyranny.”
-July 30, 2014 in a letter condemning Israel’s conduct in the summer 2014 conflict with Gaza
“Wahhabism has its roots in Judaism and they are called ISIS, which destroyed two Muslim countries in the region and destroyed 3,000 mosques and killed hundreds of thousands.”
- February 22, 2019 speaking after Friday prayers
Saudi Arabia has foreign currency reserves to the tune of $1,000 billion. But today, there is a powerful movement that is based on Islam, which has confronted this financial power—this bank full of money—and has defeated it. They have operated for four years and have spent billions of dollars against the poor and oppressed [Houthi] Ansar Allah organization, but they are paralyzed, despite all their financial coalitions.
-February 22, 2019 speaking after Friday prayers
“The influence of Saudi money has infiltrated Pakistan. Along with behind-the-scenes involvement of the Zionist regime and Wahhabism, their goal is to shatter Pakistan to smithereens. The Pakistani army must not let this happen.”
- February 22, 2019 speaking after Friday prayers
“On the basis of the Islam created by Imam [Khomeini] through his revolution, a blessed and valuable creature was born in Lebanon: Hezbollah.
-February 22, 2019 speaking after Friday prayers
“You (the U.S.) know our power in the region and our capabilities in asymmetric war. We will act and we will work…We are near you, where you can't even imagine."
-July 26, 2018 in a speech in the Iranian city of Hamedan
“The Syrian Army is useless! … Give me one brigade of the Basij, and I could conquer the whole country.”
-2012, attributed to Soleimani by an Iraqi politician
“Dear General Petraeus, you should know that I, Qassem Suleimani, control the policy for Iran with respect to Iraq, Lebanon, Gaza and Afghanistan. And indeed, the ambassador in Baghdad is a Quds Force member. The individual who’s going to replace him is a Quds Force member.”
-2008, text message reportedly sent by Soleimani to then-Iraqi President Jalal Talabani conveying a message to U.S. General David Petraeus
“We in Iran know how to deal with protests. This happened in Iran and we got it under control.”
-October 2019, speaking at a secret gathering of Iraqi officials. Soleimani was dispatched to Iraq to orchestrate the suppression of a protest movement opposed to Iranian meddling.
“If the world of Islam feels that it possesses a powerful deterrence today, it is due to the existence of two important, strong and Islamic-based forces created in Lebanon and in Palestine: Hezbollah and Islamic movements like Hamas, the Islamic Jihad and the rest of the Palestinian Islamic groups.”
- February 22, 2019 speaking after Friday prayers
“I should kiss the hand of the great sayyid Hassan Nasrallah.”
-July 10, 2017 in a speech commemorating a Quds Force officer killed in Iraq.
“We no longer see the effects of the Baath party in the Iraqi army, and this army is moving toward a national Islamic-national army and a hezbollahi army.”
-July 10, 2017 in a speech commemorating a Quds Force officer killed in Iraq. This statement is an exaggerated boast about increased Iranian influence within the Iraqi armed forces.
Eye on Iran is a news summary from United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), a section 501(c)(3) organization. Eye on Iran is available to subscribers on a daily basis or weekly basis.
The Iran nuclear deal is done. And the world's biggest companies have already visited Tehran ready to strike a deal when sanctions end. These businesses will add even more to Iran's bottom line. And that means continued development of nuclear technologies and more cash for Hamas and Hezbollah.