Many in Iran are outraged at the Suleiman assassination, but fear of war with the US

Even those who are not among the regime's sympathizers also paid homage to the Quds Force commander, who was killed in the attack of his convoy in Baghdad, but the concern over a growing military confrontation. "What if they send my son to war?"

Many in Iran are outraged at the Suleiman assassination, but fear of war with the US

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been crowding the streets of Iran since the assassination of Quds Force commander in the Revolutionary Guards, Qassem Suleimani, by a US drone that attacked his convoy in Baghdad on Friday. After assuring the regime's officials a vengeance.

"I don't feel safer, he was a hero. I'm not a religious woman or a supporter of the regime, but I respected Suleimani. He sacrificed his life to protect us," she said in a phone call with Reuters 61-year-old Reese

Following the US attack, which, according to US President Donald Trump, was intended to prevent war, Iranian flags were lowered to half-mast at its embassies around the world, three mourning days were announced and concerts and sporting events were canceled. The remains of Suleimani and other Iranian dead in the attack today reached Iran, and were welcomed by hundreds of thousands of residents in various cities.

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"He was a hero." Suleimani's funeral ceremony in Ahwaz, today (Photo: Reuters)

The funeral of Qassem Suleimani, Bahawas, Iran, January 5, 2019 (Photo: Reuters)

The photos of the Quds Force commander, who joined the Revolutionary Guards after the war with Iraq in 1980, were lined with newspaper columns of all the profits of the Iranian political spectrum. In part, the Iran flag was in the background.
"We will take revenge. America should be afraid of revenge," said 28-year-old Mojatba Hashemite of the Basij militia from the city of Mashhad. "He was our father. We will continue his path."

Others expressed concern that a military confrontation with the American power would further undermine stability in a country that experienced a wave of protests last November against the cost of living, which is violently suppressed.

Munir, a 56-year-old retired teacher, fears her son, who is studying at Tehran University, will be called to military service. She and many other older Iranians are still haunted by the memories of the war with Iraq, in which about a million people were killed on both sides. Sulaymani and other Revolutionary Guards officials rose to prominence in the war with Iraq, and many still respect them.

"I feel sorry for Suleimani's death, but what will happen if America and Iran start a war? I have children. What if they send my son to war?"

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"What if America and Iran start a war?" (Photo: Reuters)

Mourning rally in memory of Qassem Suleimani in Ahwaz, Iran, January 5, 2020 (Photo: Reuters)

Her grandfather, a student who participated in the most violent protest against the regime since the 1979 revolution, expressed concern that the economic situation would only get worse. "The regime is having a hard time on every front, from the economy to foreign policy," she said. "They are pushing Iran toward war to try to unite civilians. It is enough to live with the fear of war and the pressure of sanctions."

Reza Hujesta, a 17-year-old high school student from the city of Yazd in central Iran, said that "not only Suleimani's family, but all Iranian citizens are mourning today. Iran is mourning." He said, "He died for his country. He will always be in my heart."

Despite the unity of the ranks of the generally divided ruling elite, and the grief of Iranian celebrities and intellectuals, not all mourned.

Shukopa, a 21-year-old student from Shiraz city, fears that Suleimani's name will lead to more misery. "I do not support his cause, it has brought us misery, confrontation and isolation. I want peace with America and our neighbors," she said. She and others hope Washington and Tehran will use diplomatic means to alleviate the most serious crisis in their relationship since taking the American hostages in 1979.