Iranian Brig. Gen. Esmail Ghaani, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Quds Force, advised U.S. President Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in a recent speech to look to Indian author Salman Rushdie for an example of what their lives will be like from now on.
Iran issued a religious ruling in 1989 calling for Rushdie’s execution for penning “The Satanic Verses,” which was deemed blasphemous against Islam.
In his speech, which was aired on Iran’s Channel 3 on Jan. 6, Ghaani said that the defeat of those responsible for the assassination of his predecessor, Qassem Soleimani, had already begun.
“You will have no peace even in your own homes. It is not inconceivable that the revenge against you will come from within your home,” he said.
“Know this—and I have made this recommendation elsewhere as well—the main perpetrators who committed this crime, from U.S. President [Donald Trump] to the current secretary of state [Mike Pompeo], who has been nurturing his hatred for the martyr Soleimani for years, on a daily basis, they should all take a lesson from Salman Rushdie on how their lives will be from now on,” he added.
Turning to Israel, Ghaani said, “It was said that you [Israelis] will not see the next 25 years. Have no doubt about it. With the help of Allah, this can be done. The people who follow this path have already liberated Karbala, and they shall liberate Palestine.”
However, he continued, this was not the final goal.
“The ultimate goal that they have their eyes set on and towards which they move is the global rule of the Hidden Imam. The students of Soleimani ... will not settle for anything less, inshallah,” he said.
