Iranian President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian lauded the late General Qassem Soleimani, highlighting his role as the "epitome of unity and convergence" during a meeting with Soleimani's family in Tehran on Friday.

"Martyr Hajj Qassem Soleimani's path was one of unity and convergence," Pezeshkian stated. "He never engaged in disputes or sought to exclude anyone. His words carried no trace of division."

Pezeshkian emphasized the need for Iranian authorities to address the nation's challenges through unity, inspired by Soleimani's ideals.

He also praised Soleimani's lifelong dedication to the Iranian people and his ability to transcend factional lines, portraying him as a national hero and a revered figure in the Islamic world.

Bagheri Kani: Iran to exhaust legal means for justice for Soleimani

This comes after Iranian Interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani vowed to exhaust all accessible domestic and foreign legal means to prosecute the parties responsible for the assassination of the country's top anti-commander General Qassem Soleimani.

The Islamic Republic would exercise every possible legal action to ensure that "justice is served in the case," Bagheri Kani told CNN's Fareed Zakaria on Wednesday during his visit to New York, emphasizing "This is our right." 

Highlighting martyr Soleimani's work ethic and selflessness, Pezeshkian expressed hope that the incoming administration would serve Iranians with integrity, honoring the legacy of the martyrs.

Soleimani's family urged the new government to uphold the values of the Axis of Resistance and continue General Soleimani's honorable path. They stressed the importance of unity and healing divisions, echoing the general's principles.

Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), along with the Iraq Popular Mobilization Units's (PMU) second-in-command Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, and their companions were assassinated near Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020, by a US drone strike authorized by former US President Donald Trump.

The commanders were held in high esteem in the Middle East since they played a pivotal role in combatting the ISIS takfiri terrorist group in the region, especially in Iraq and Syria.