The beginning of 2020, on the global scale, brought forth a serious disorder of the already-complicated geopolitical and security situation, especially in the Middle East, but which was essentially influenced most by the assassination on the Iranian General Qasim Soleimani, the man who was the fiercest fighter against the Caliphates of the Islamic State. The assassination order was issued directly by the president – Donald Trump, and the American Ministry of Defence claimed that the operation was led with the aim of preventing the attack on the American diplomats in Iraq and the region, for which they directly identified General Soleimani as the organiser.
However, is that really so, are these terms truthful or are there other reasons behind the assassination, I will try to express my analysis in several sentences:
The assassination of General Soleimani cannot be perceived as an isolated incident of action against the man who in the Middle East and farther away represented a monument in political, informative, and military sense and as such was one of the barriers to reaching the goal of hegemonic forces, especially since the Middle East is in question – here we primarily speak of the United States and Israel. His name is the personification of opposing expansionist intentions of the West and achieving the goal of global dominance, where for decades nations and countries in the Middle East have been fighting against various forms and types of warfare which have been imposed on and fought against them. Al Quds has been transformed into an organisation which can face different geopolitical challenges. He has always been faithful to the Islamic Revolution, but he was characterised by his modest way of living. It should be taken into account that during the early 2000s there came the development of resistance against the USA within the territories of the Middle East, which is still opposing the politics of the US, Saudi Arabia and Israel.
What is the core importance which we should emphasise at this moment? Which motives were present, with what aims and which consequences were expected?
The aim of the main hegemonic hero is reflected in the change of the political identity of the state from the national (pro-country) orientation to the globalist (anti-state) orientation. On the other hand, Iran is the last refuge of traditional Islam (unrefined, non-liberal, strengthened by centuries of traditional statehood), and is therefore perceived dangerous for the US and Israel. In the last 40 years, Iran has formulated its country on the basis of the Islamic creed, and this model of statehood on the basis of the Iranian national and Islamic culture. The Iranian government does not rely on any other country in the cultural, economic or political sense, and therein lies the problem. The West does not want such a political pattern to be transposed onto other countries. The core of this patter is such that it does not recognise hegemony and does not allow intervention into its inner affairs. In other words, this model eliminates the Western dominance in the region. In order to prevent that, the West often utilises all means and we could say that Iran has been faced with different forms of special warfare, wherein, among other elements, the media propaganda about Iran in the world is presented as a country which is the greatest threat to the world, peace, and it is absolutely not true.
In such a complicated situation, General Soleimani appears, whose capabilities, national spirit, army, informational data, his influence and work, all become a serious barrier, but also a threat which is perceived in the efficiency, or rather inefficiency, to reach goals and plans, which the US and Israel had for Syria, Iraq, Iran and other countries. The best example of his capabilities and influence is reflected in his role within Syria, in his support and aid to hold the rule of Bashar al-Assad, as well as in his position and place in establishing the relations and strengthening of the alliance between Iran and Russia.
By taking all of this into account, from a wider examination of geopolitical relations and aims, imbalances presented by Iran, all the way to individual places and the role of General Soleimani, who seriously managed to impose and mobilise forces against the US in the entire Middle East, we come to more motives for planning, organising and implementing General Soleimani’s assassination.
Through his assassination, the US planned to remove their dangerous and capable adversary, in a personal sense, but also of the broader importance reflected in the desire for destabilisation in an operational, moral, psychological and state sense. Iran and other opponents and resistances which stand against the interests of the US and Israel.
Because of this world, I personally think that General Soleimani’s assassination wanted to reach reactions in Iran, which would in turn be used to open up a new crisis focal point, where war events would commence and new decades-oriented attempts intended for splitting would continue, but also attempts to break and subdue Iran to the interests of the US, Israel and their allies.