Iran hints Soleimani could be avenged 'inside America' amid kamikaze-style threat to US Capitol building

Authorities in the United States said a threat has been made by unknown perpetrators to avenge the killing of Iranian Commander Qasem Soleimani.

MENA

2 min read

The New Arab Staff

06 January, 2021

Soleimani was killed in Baghdad [Getty]

The United States has received threats of attacks to avenge the killing of top Iranian military commander Major General Qasem Soleimani, local media reported.

Air traffic controllers across New York allegedly heard a threat by attackers vowing to fly a plane into the Capitol building in the name of the slain Iranian official, CBS reported.

"We are flying a plane into the Capitol on Wednesday. Soleimani will be avenged,” the digitised recording said, according to the report.

It is unclear who sent the threat, though the government has downplayed its credibility and is investigating as a mere breach of aviation frequencies.

Meanwhile, the FBI said it takes "all threats of violence to public safety seriously."

Tensions have run high in the Gulf in recent years after the US stepped up its campaign of "maximum pressure" on Iran following its 2018 withdrawal from the landmark nuclear deal with Iran.

The escalation saw ships mysteriously attacked, drones downed and oil tankers seized in the strategic strait - a chokepoint through which a fifth of world oil output passes.

But the latest developments follows days of high US-Iranian tensions marked by the first anniversary of the US assassination of Soleimani who was killed in a Baghdad drone strike.

On Sunday, Washington reversed a decision to bring the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz home from the Gulf, with the Pentagon citing "recent threats" by the Islamic Republic.

The following day, Iran said it had started the process to enrich uranium to 20 percent purity, a move that quickly drew international concern.

Concerns have been raised in recent weeks over potential action being taken against Iran by an outgoing Trump adminstration, who is due to hand over the White House to Democrat Joe Biden adminstration this month.

Earlier this month, a commander from Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) warned Iran was prepared to avenge Soleimani's death even "in the US' own home."

"I say frankly that the path of the Quds Force and the resistance forces will not change because of the evils committed by the United States. Even in your home (in the US) there may be people who will pay for this crime," the commander said in a speech on the first anniversary of the assassination.

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