IRGC Commander Sees 'War of Attrition' in Gaza

Iran Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Commander Hossein Salam during a march in Tehran (AFP)
Iran Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Commander Hossein Salam during a march in Tehran (AFP)
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IRGC Commander Sees 'War of Attrition' in Gaza

Iran Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Commander Hossein Salam during a march in Tehran (AFP)
Iran Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Commander Hossein Salam during a march in Tehran (AFP)

Thousands of Iranians took part in state-sponsored marches on Saturday to protest against the deaths of children and other civilians in the Gaza war.

Iran Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Commander Hossein Salam said Israel was going towards its doom in a war of attrition.

"Palestine stands on the path of a war of attrition...Israel will face a definitive defeat and end up in the dustbin of history," Salami told a rally in the capital, Tehran, which was aired live on state TV.

"The battle is not over. The Islamic world will do whatever it has to do. There are still great (unused) capacities left," Salami said, without referring to any possible moves by Iran to join the conflict, according to Reuters.

Salami stated that the al-Aqsa Flood operation demonstrated that foreign aid and governments such as the US cannot save Israel from collapse because before they arrive to the rescue, Muslims and Palestinians can end this entity, according to the official Iranian News Agency (IRNA).

State television showed some protesters carrying bundled white shrouds symbolizing the children killed in Gaza during the nationwide marches held ahead of World Children's Day on Monday.

Tensions in the region have flared since a deadly attack by Iran-backed Hamas militants who burst through the border from Gaza into Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 240 hostages, including children, according to Israeli tallies.

On Saturday, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs appealed to the international community to help stop the "killing machine and organized terrorism of the Zionist regime against the Palestinian people and hold Zionist criminals accountable to justice and international law."



Pezeshkian Vows to Continue Soleimani’s Path, Urges Unity

HANDOUT - 02 January 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of Iran's slain Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani. Photo: -/Iranian Presidency/dpa
HANDOUT - 02 January 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of Iran's slain Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani. Photo: -/Iranian Presidency/dpa
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Pezeshkian Vows to Continue Soleimani’s Path, Urges Unity

HANDOUT - 02 January 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of Iran's slain Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani. Photo: -/Iranian Presidency/dpa
HANDOUT - 02 January 2025, Iran, Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of Iran's slain Revolutionary Guards commander Qasem Soleimani. Photo: -/Iranian Presidency/dpa

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian pledged to follow the path of General Qassem Soleimani, calling for unity and an end to internal divisions to counter “enemy conspiracies.”

His remarks came on the fifth anniversary of Soleimani’s assassination in a US airstrike ordered by then-President Donald Trump.

At a ceremony held by the Revolutionary Guard in Tehran on Thursday, Pezeshkian praised Soleimani’s work as commander of the Quds Force, the Guard’s foreign arm, and urged Iranians to stand together.

“We must not let the enemies’ plans succeed,” he said in a speech broadcast on state TV.

“Unity and solidarity are the continuation of Soleimani’s mission,” he added.

Pezeshkian claimed Soleimani worked for Islamic unity while enemies tried to exploit divisions.

“The enemy seeks to create rifts among Muslims. We must stop this by serving all people,” he said.

He blamed internal conflicts on selfishness, adding that Soleimani stayed loyal to the Supreme Leader and avoided political factions.

Pezeshkian stressed that unity under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s guidance is key to success and overcoming the country’s challenges.

“We must address these issues,” he said, pledging to work towards justice and a better future for Iran, focusing on progress in industry, science, economy, and technology.

Pezeshkian also criticized Israel, Europe, and the US for killing Soleimani and his companions five years ago.

He did not mention then-President Donald Trump by name but vowed, “We will confront our enemies and push their faces into the dirt.”

His comments came after Khamenei defended Soleimani’s regional strategy, highlighting his efforts to form armed groups and counter US influence in the Middle East.

Khamenei also defended Iran’s role in Syria, arguing that it was part of a broader strategy to strengthen resistance against enemies.

Khamenei’s statements were in response to criticism of Iran’s involvement in Syria, especially after the fall of President Bashar al-Assad. He rejected claims that the Iranian bloodshed in Syria had been in vain.

As Trump starts his second term on January 20, questions remain about US-Iran relations, especially regarding Iran's nuclear program, as the country has made significant progress in uranium enrichment.

Meanwhile, a senior Iranian advisor, Abdolali Zadeh, suggested that Iran is ready for direct talks with the US, urging a new foreign policy approach.

“We must engage honestly and defend our national interests,” he said.