Call for UN Action on Gen. Soleimani’s Assassination

Iran called on the United Nations General Assembly to take legal action against the United States for its assassination of Iranian top commander General Qasem Soleimani in 2020. 
The office of the vice president for legal affairs made the request in a statement on Saturday, ahead of the second anniversary of the general’s martyrdom on Jan 3.
“It is highly proposed that the universally respected General Assembly take all possible legal initiatives within its authority, including the adoption of a resolution, and while condemning the assassination of state and diplomatic officials by another government, work out ways to prevent such crimes in the future,” it said, according to the government’s website. 
Undoubtedly, it added, the impunity of the perpetrators of the crime and their immunity from any judicial condemnation and punishment will strongly put international peace in an even more static state.
Soleimani was killed in a drone strike on direct order of the then US president, along with Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and their companions in Baghdad.
The statement described the act as the “unbelievable assassination” of a citizen and highly ranked official of Iran who was on a diplomatic mission in the territory of Iraq. 

“Direct responsibility of the commission of this violent crime was subsequently accepted by the President of the United States of America,” the statement read. 
Former US president Donald Trump, who ordered the killing, asserted at the time that General Soleimani “should have been terminated long ago.”
This “dangerous measure” was taken in violation of the UN Charter which prohibits states from engaging in acts which are detrimental to international peace and security, according to the statement. 
The legal vice-presidency censured the US for “extreme unilateralism” which has given it the power to violate any international Charter-based and supra-Charter rules and regulations.
The UN rapporteur for extrajudicial killing in July 2020 also concluded in a report that the general’s assassination was “unlawful” and “arbitrary” and violated the UN Charter.
Iran immediately retaliated the assassination by targeting locations hosting American forces in Iraq by missiles, but declared that the ultimate revenge would be the US expulsion from the entire region. 

Commemoration Events 

Multiple events have been arranged in Iran to mark the second anniversary of Soleimani’s martyrdom and the retaliatory missile launches. 
A main commemoration ceremony is organized on Monday across the country, including the capital Tehran, which will be attended by top government and military officials.
President Ebrahim Raisi and other top figures will address the televised event.
The Islamic Development Coordination Council issued a notice on Sunday, calling on all Iranians to take part in the nationwide event to commend Martyr Soleimani’s years of resistance and renew their allegiance with the Islamic Republic. 
Among other events is an exhibition of Iran’s missile capabilities, which is also expected to be held on Friday.
In Iraq, thousands filled a Baghdad square to mark the martyrdom anniversary of the revered Iranian commander and his Iraqi companion who was deputy head of the Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary alliance that has now been integrated into Iraq’s state security apparatus.
Participants carried signs saying “US terrorism has to end” and chanted “Death to America”. 
Hashed al-Shaabi has repeatedly called for the withdrawal of US troops who are deployed in Iraq as part of a multinational coalition purportedly fighting the self-styled Islamic State terrorist group. 
Senior Hashed al-Shaabi official Faleh al-Fayyad reiterated the demand Saturday, saying the killing of Soleimani and Muhandis was “a crime against Iraqi sovereignty.”
In early December 2021, Iraq announced the end of the “combat mission” there of the US-led coalition against the IS, but about 2,500 American soldiers and 1,000 coalition troops will remain deployed in Iraq to offer training, advice and assistance to national forces.