Hosein Yekta, one of the IRGC commanders, said at one of the ceremonies related to Arbaeen in Iraq: “We are not going to postpone retaliation and blood vengeance until the advent; we consider blood vengeance and retaliation as the prelude to the advent, because we are supposed to provide security for the Deputy of the Imam of the Time so that the Imam himself will come. The Imam of the Time is not supposed to come in unsafe conditions, so this blood vengeance is not a slogan and a catchphrase.”

He, referring to the killing of Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war, said: “Retaliation must definitely be carried out, because retaliation brings life.”

Yekta added: “When the enemies put the security of the Deputy of the Imam of the Time at risk, that sends a message; that means we must do something so that security is established for the Imam of the Time.”