U.S. Pompeo speaks with Netanyahu about Iran threat

Iran will take harsh but not hasty revenge: Armed Forces spox

Netanyahu, Pompeo during a meeting in Lisbon, seeking efforts to counter Iran's influence in Middle East1

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Saturday said he had spoken with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about the situation in Iran following the U.S. air strike that killed Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani.

Netanyahu "and I just spoke and underscored the importance of countering Iran’s malign influence and threats to the region," Pompeo said on Twitter, adding that he was "always grateful for Israel’s steadfast support in defeating terrorism."

Spokesman of the Iranian Armed Forces Brigadier General Abolfazl Shekarchi announced on Saturday that Iran will respond the US move of assassination of IRGC’s Quds Force commander Lieutenant General Qasem Soleimani but will avoid taking any hasty action.

General Shekarchi said Iran will avoid taking any hasty action but will take a tough revenge from the US, as the Iranian and regional nations besides the Leader of the Islamic Republic desire.

He reiterated that Iran will take a tough revenge from the US, as the Iranian and regional nations besides the Leader of the Islamic Republic desire.

It is the Islamic Republic’s right to respond to assassination of General Soleimani by the US and will do that for sure, he noted.

“In case of [Iran-US] war or any confrontation, Americans will suffer severe damage and if they do any madness, Iran’s response would be tougher,” he said.

The Spokesperson elaborated that “Americans have taken an irreversible step.”

The United States terrorist forces assassinated General Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the second-in-command of Iraq’s pro-government Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) — better known as Hashd al-Sha’abi — in an attack at Baghdad’s international airport early on Friday. 

The Pentagon confirmed in a statement that US President Donald Trump had ordered the attack.

General Soleimani’s body will be transferred to Iran on Monday to be buried in his hometown, Kerman.

By REUTERS / MNA