Qasem Soleimani’s Assassination in Iraq,

Qasem Soleimani’s Assassination in Iraq,

An Action that could Exacerbate Tension and Military Conflict in the Region!

The solution to preventing conflict is avoiding acts of revenge and negotiating unconditionally!

This morning, Qods Force commander Qasem Soleimani, along with several commanders of Iraqi militia Hashd al-Shaabi was assassinated by the US army near Baghdad airport. The US Army officially took over responsibility for the attack and said the killing was the direct order of Donald Trump. The Iraqi government said the action was conducted without notice and is in clear violation of Iraq's sovereignty and international charters. Khamenei has declared three days of mourning and threatened the US government with a "severe revenge". By the opposition in the US, Qasem Soleimani’s assassination has been interpreted as "putting fire in the tinderbox”. With Qasem Soleimani’s assassination, tensions between the US government and the Islamic Republic has entered a new phase.

After the attack of the US army on the bases of Kataeb Hezbollah (Brigades of the Party of God), in a statement titled "Semi-proxy war in Iraq, an appalling danger to the people of Iraq and Iran!” we warned that the continuation of the process that has begun in Iraq could easily extend the current proxy war inside Iran. In fact, the measures in the recent weeks in Iraq, from pestering actions of forces supported by the Islamic Republic against the military bases of the US in Iraq to US strike against Kataeb’s battalions and attack on the US Embassy in Baghdad, warrants a “playing with fire” game that its continuation could cause a broader military conflict and its scope would not be limited only to Iraq. Soleimani’s killing and consequent threats clearly proves the fact. Current tense atmosphere is prone to continuous acts of revenge by both sides, increase the scope of hostilities and provoke incidents that could lead the current trends closer to a full-blown conflict.

Qasem Soleimani was the driving force of expansionist policies of the Islamic Republic in the region in the past two decades and had a significant role in the development of "strategic depth" policy of the Islamic Republic. His assassination is a heavy blow to the Islamic Republic. Soleimani’s dying in Baghdad in the company of the Hashd al-Shaabi’s commanders represent blatant interference of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and its direct association with this militant group in Iraq. The Islamic Republic leaders have threatened to take revenge. But it is clear that any act of revenge of the Islamic Republic will face harsh reaction by the Trump government. We are, above all, concerned about the continuation of tension and hostility that both sides are responsible for. Although they ensure that they do not want war, but they do not step except to bring it about. Khamenei, by rejecting any negotiations and emphasizing on "strategic depth" policy and organizing para-military militias in the region, in addition to causing human and financial costs to the country, is forcing the region to military conflict.

The Left Party of Iran (People's Fadaian) is proponent of harmony in the relations between the two countries. We condemn escalation of tensions and terror and pestering actions of the Islamic Republic and its regional allies against the US in Iraq. We invite both parties to resolve their differences at the negotiating table. The current trend can cause a more volatile situation in Iraq and can cause the Iraqi people struggle in changing the current situation confront serious difficulties. We believe that the solution in Iraq to achieve stability and progress, is the withdrawal of foreign governments from Iraq and to respect the national rights of the Iraqi people who themselves, can determine their own destiny. The policy of our party as a proponent of peace and protection of national interests and welfare of the people of Iran, is based on an end to the Islamic Republic interference in the region, defense of peace, cooperation and friendship with all neighboring countries. The quick solution is the withdrawal of military and advisory forces from Iraq, recognition of Iraq sovereignty, avoiding acts of revenge by both governments of the Islamic Republic and Trump and approach to negotiate unconditionally and invite the involvement and supervision of the United Nations to resolve the current dispute.

Political-Executive Bureau of the Left Party of Iran (People’s Fadaian)

January 3, 2020