Tensions between Iran and the United States are escalating ahead of the anniversary of the assassination of Quds Commander Qassem Suleimani, when Iranian President Hassan Rouhani sent an explicit threat to US President Donald Trump yesterday (Wednesday). In a speech to the Iranian parliament, Rouhani said that “not only will Trump’s term end in the coming days, but his life as well.” This is a rather unusual statement for the president of Iran, who is considered to have a moderate political line in Iran.
In addition, ahead of the anniversary of Suleimani’s assassination, there are reports in Iran today (Thursday) that the country’s attorney general is accusing a British company of involvement in his assassination on January 3 in Baghdad. According to the same allegations, the British security company G4S, which has been in charge of security at Baghdad airport since 2010, assisted a force that eliminated Suleimani.
In Iran, the company is accused of providing information in real time to the force behind the assassination of Suleimani, upon landing at the airport. “The company’s employees were in direct contact with the terrorists who carried out the operation and provided them with information upon his arrival.”
The British security company rejected the allegations and stated that these were unfounded speculations. “G4S would like to announce that none of its employees had anything to do with the assassination of Qassem Suleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Mohandes,” an official statement said.
Qassem Suleimani (Photo: AFP)Meanwhile, yesterday it was reported that a U.S. Air Force bomber squadron was flying in the skies of the Arabian Gulf, near Iran. The B52 bombers’ flight was reportedly intended to send a threatening message to Iran, amid rising tensions and preparedness in the Gulf ahead of the anniversary of Suleimani’s assassination.
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo did not hide the bombers’ flight, saying, “America will not be subjected to nuclear blackmail.” Frank McKenzie, commander of Sentcom, U.S. Army Command, said of the operation: “The U.S. military will continue to act and prepare for any possibility of harm to its forces and American targets in the region. We are not looking for a confrontation, but prepared for any attack.”