In honor of the memory of Martyr Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, a mural, depicting a picture of Soleimani alongside the late Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez ornamented with the flags of Iran and Venezuela, was inaugurated in a street in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas. 

En una ceremonia celebrada en Caracas, cientos de personas se reunieron para conmemorar el tercer aniversario del ataque terrorista de EE.UU. contra el teniente general iraní Qasem #Soleimani. En el acto también fue inaugurado un mural con la imagen del mártir.#Venezuela #Iran pic.twitter.com/vAYrRdvnOW

— NexoLatino (@Nexo_Latino) January 3, 2023

During the opening ceremony of the mural painted by Venezuelan artist Nelson Santana, Iranian Ambassador to Venezuela Hojat Soltani highlighted the importance of consolidating the revolutionary course and independence of both countries before the whole world.

"Venezuela is the land of heroes, the land of the liberator Simon Bolivar and the eternal leader Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias," he said, noting that "Iran reiterates its solidarity and mutual support that shall achieve victory for both nations."

Mural en honor al "general del pueblo iraní" Qasem Soleimani, pintado por el artista venezolano Nelson Santana y una brigada de la comunidad de La Piedrita en el 23 de Enero, Caracas.

📷 @federicoparra #AFP - @AFPphoto pic.twitter.com/0bghhcHDeC

— Javier Tovar Guédez (@tovarguedez) January 4, 2023

On his part, the head of the Venezuelan-Iranian Parliamentary Friendship Group, Venezuelan MP Pedro Infante, expressed his solidarity with the Iranian people "in their struggle against the common enemy; US imperialism," as he put it.

Infante further said, "The drones that were used to assassinate Lieutenant General Soleimani are the same ones that attempted to assassinate President Nicolas Maduro."

Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad-Reza Ashtiani confirmed, "Revenge for the blood of the martyr Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani is still on the agenda of the armed forces, and the terrorists will be punished for their actions."

Last Monday, the Iranian authorities issued arrest warrants for people in Iraq in connection with Soleimani’s assassination, revealing that "these accused are nationals of 3 to 4 countries."

Read more: A memory for life; how Soleimani’s friend remembers him: Exclusive

On January 3, 2020, the US carried out a drone strike authorized by former US President Donald Trump targeting a car carrying the commander of the Quds Force of the IRGC Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, and his Iraqi trench-mate and the second-in-command of Iraqi PMU (Popular Mobilization Units), Abu Mahdi Al-Muhandis.

Martyr Soleimani was on an official visit to Iraq and was transported in a car with Martyr Al-Muhandis from Baghdad's International Airport upon his arrival before being assassinated by the US.

Days after his martyrdom, the anti-terror icon’s body was transferred to Iran and was laid to rest in his hometown of Kerman. On Saturday, the head of the special committee in charge of the case, Abbas-Ali Kadkhodaei, confirmed Iran is in the final stages of releasing an official indictment on the murder of the IRGC Quds Force Commander. 

The US, as it does business, as usual, has attempted to block the legal case prosecution. Iran's Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, noted that "unfortunately, both the Americans and some other western countries are creating obstacles in the way of judiciary procedure, but the Islamic Republic of Iran, too, is not hand-tied."

Read more: Soleimani, Muhandes, Mughniyeh prohibited US occupation: Nasrallah