Brigadier General Esmail Qa’ani was speaking in a ceremony held in the capital Tehran on Thursday to commemorate the 40th day of the martyrdom of Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian, who lost their lives alongside a number of their companions in a tragic helicopter crash in northwestern Iran on May 19.
Describing the late Iranian foreign minister as “indefatigable and plucky,” Qa’ani said Amir-Abdollahian opened a new era in defense of resistance and was the “sonorous voice” of the resistance front.
The IRGC commander said the words and actions of Raisi and Amir-Abdollahian proved that the Islamic Republic can “confront major powers,” and “isolate” a heavyweight like the US.
Qa’ani stressed that the efforts of the two figures in the international arena were very effective and managed to safeguard Iran’s authority against child-killing Israel and criminal America.
“These men fought with the US and proved that things can be done without relying on America,” Qa’ani said.
“You should know that those who attribute the resolution of problems to relations with America are the ones who do not want to fight valiantly. If you talk from the position of authority and power, even the US will be forced to comply.”
Major General Hossein Salami, the chief commander of the IRGC, hailed a day earlier the great achievements of the late Iranian chief executive, saying Raisi shattered the West’s so-called policy of isolating and sanctioning Iran.
Salami also emphasized that the upcoming presidential elections should become a scene for the victory of the Iranian nation over its enemies.
Iranians will vote on Friday to elect a new president from six candidates to replace Raisi.
The new administration, the 14th since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, will assume power in late June or early July and will hold office for four years.