TEHRAN – During a commemoration ceremony on Tuesday, the Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) lauded the significant contributions of the late Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, to the nation's foreign policy. 

Major General Hossein Salami commended Amir Abdollahian for his pivotal role in resolving tensions and expanding diplomatic relationships with other countries. 

Salami emphasized Amir Abdollahian's unwavering commitment to upholding Iran's rights on the global stage, stating, "Amir-Abdollahian was an exemplary minister who spoke with a confident heart and pure words. He demonstrated to the world that Iran has the right to respond in challenging situations.” The IRGC general especially praised the late diplomat for helping to establish the legitimacy of Operation True Promise. Operation True Promise was Iran’s retaliation against Israel for the regime’s April 1 attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus. It involved the firing of dozens of missiles and drones at Israeli military positions in the occupied territories from Iran’s soil.  

“At that time when foreign ministers of major countries contacted him and requested us not to take action or to show a mild reaction, it was Amir Abdollahian who showed the world that we have the right to respond,” the military official declared. 

Highlighting the late Foreign Minister's diplomatic prowess, Salami pointed to his instrumental role in securing Iran's membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and breaking monopolies in international relations. He noted that Amir Abdollahian's efforts had elevated Iran's international position, expanded its sphere of influence, and shattered the circle of isolation imposed by external forces.

Amir Abdollahian, along with President Ebrahim Raisi and six others, lost his life during a helicopter crash in Iran’s northwestern mountainous region on May 19. His funeral ceremonies saw millions of people take to the streets across the country. He was laid to rest in southern Tehran.  

Elsewhere in his comments, Salami underscored the resilience of the Iranian people in the face of economic sanctions, He affirmed that despite external pressures, Iran had advanced on the path of development and resisted compromising its dignity for economic gains.