Sputnik - The Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida has reported recently that the US had allegedly given Israel the "Green Light" to eliminate General Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard�s overseas arm,Quds force. The newspaper quoted a source as saying that Soleimani poses a "threat" to Washington and Tel Aviv in the region.




Sputnik spoke with�political analyst and journalist Rohollah Faghihi for�more insight into�the issue.

Sputnik:�Does this report, published in�the Al-Jarida newspaper, sound trustworthy to�you?

Rohollah Faghihi:�This is not the first time that I have heard such reports. However, I have seen Iranian scientists assassinated by�Israelis, which have been also reflected in�a new book.

Sputnik:�Who is General Quaseem Soleimani and how important is he?

Rohollah Faghihi:�General Soleimani is the chief commander of�Quds force, which is a branch of�IRGC. Soleimani is known very well in�Iran and his popularity is on�the rise every day. In fact, according to�a new survey, his popularity is more than�FM Zarif who achieved the JCPOA.
It is believed that�Gen Soleimani is the commander of�Iran's regional presence, and many of�Iranian victories in�regional issues and influence in�regional countries are due to�his strategies. Unlike various reports, he is a moderate person in�Iranian politics and has also refrained to�enter politics. However, he has been offered to�run for�the presidential election, but�he hasnt accepted.


Sputnik:�Why did Israel decide to�assassinate General Qaseem Soleimani?

Rohollah�Faghihi:�If this is ture, this is a miscalculation by�Israeli administration as�this will heighten the tensions between�Iran and Israeli. And I believe the Israelis wouldn't commit such action under�the current circumstances as�they are well aware that Iran haven't left any attempts on�his�interests and influential figures�unanswered.

I believe such actions will endanger the stability of�the region and will lead to�serious tensions between�the two parties.

Sputnik:�What threat does this general present to�US and Israeli interests in�the region?

Rohollah Faghihi:�He has managed and succeeded�to�advance Iranian interests in�countries such as�Lebanon, Iraq and Syria. Israelis believe the recent missile answers by�Syria to�Israeli was directed by�Gen Soleimani, who is called in�Iran as�Haj Qassem.
One of�the issues that West and Arab countries have a serious issue with, is the regional presence of�Iran which has been gained through�Soleimani's strategie and his network of�militia in�these countries.


The views expressed in�this article are solely those of�Rohollah Faghihi and do not reflect those of�Sputnik.