Iran’s response to the United States

Iran's first revenge attack on the United States for the assassination of General Soleimani occurred at dawn on Wednesday, January 8 (local time) when several missiles fell on two US military bases in Iraq.

According to El País, "Iraqi authorities indicate that 22 rockets hit the military precincts, while Iranian state television talked about 15." However, the attack was victimless because, according to statements by the Iraqi government, they had already been informed that the attacks would occur. The two bases attacked were that of Ain Al Asad, in the west of the country, and one in Erbil, in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The Iraqi prime minister's office said in a statement that "shortly after midnight, we received an official verbal message from the Islamic Republic of Iran indicating that the response to the murder of the martyr Qasem Soleimani would begin." Since then, Iraq has taken necessary preventive measures to try to minimize the victims of possible attacks.

After the attack by the United States, Iran had noticed serious consequences and had speculated what kind of actions could be taken by the Middle East country. The answer was clear.

Iran's response was that the fact had not been an offensive attack but in self-defense. "Iran took and concluded proportional measures in self-defense under Article 51 of the Charter of the United Nations, attacking the base from which the cowardly attack against our citizens and senior officers was launched. We are not seeking escalation or war, but we will defend ourselves against any aggression, "said Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif.

On Wednesday morning, President Donald Trump gave official statements in which he referred to the Iranian attack. He said first of all that the Americans should be happy and "proud" because thanks to precautions no soldier from either Iraq or the United States were injured.

Faced with the death of Soleimani, he said that "He should have been terminated long ago … we have sent a powerful message to terrorists", because the general, according to what Trump said, was responsible for some of the most serious atrocities, since the group was in charge of financing the terrorists in the Middle East.

He also announced that "as we continue to evaluate options on response to Iranian aggressive, the US will immediately impose additional punishment on economic sanctions to the Iranian regime.". He said it was time for the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, and China to recognize the reality of what is happening and that he would speak with NATO "so that it is more involved in the process in the Middle East."To become more involved in the middle east process."

In the speech, he also referred to nuclear weapons and Iran's attempt to obtain them. "Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions and end support for terrorists," stating strongly that the Middle Eastern country will never have a nuclear weapon. 

The consequences of the death of Soleimani

Days ago, the death of the elite General of the Quds Force, Qasem Soleimani, was confirmed by US drones on Iraqi soil.

The fact was officially declared by the Pentagon as a defensive attack by the alleged plans against diplomats and US citizens by the Quds Force. To this was also added the enmity that the United States has had for more than 40 years with this force for an attack that killed dozens of soldiers since Donald Trump had chosen to consider them as a terrorist group by stating that he financed the weapons of others.

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The death was received as a direct attack on Iran, whose citizens joined to reproach such an act and took to the streets to honor a man who for years helped Iran's sovereignty. Days after Soleimani's death, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in downtown Tehran to say goodbye to the general and to demand justice and revenge, launching strong attacks against the United States and directly against Trump.

This farewell day left 50 dead and at least 200 injured according to official information for a stampede that occurred. As the number of people was such, many could not save themselves from it.

For its part, the Iranian parliament voted to reform a law that considered US forces deployed from the Horn of Africa to Central Asia through the Middle East to be terrorists. After the death of the general, this law was added considering anyone who has been involved in the attack to be terrorists.

Soleimani's assassination has been considered a direct declaration of war, even though the Pentagon claimed to have done so as a defense mechanism. After this, tensions in the Middle East are expected to worsen.