CIA Chief's Letter to Qassem Soleimani Regarding Threats to US Interests

On December 2, the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency stated during a speech that he wrote a letter to Qassem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Previously, the head of the Islamic Republic's leader's office quoted Soleimani as saying he 'would not receive or read the letter.' Mike Pompeo, speaking at a defense meeting in Simi Valley, California, mentioned that although the letter was never opened, he intended to send it because Soleimani had indicated that his forces might threaten US interests in Iraq. Pompeo added that Soleimani 'refused to open the letter; and to be honest, it did not break my heart.' Associated Press quoted the CIA chief as saying, 'What we told him in the letter is that we hold him (Qassem Soleimani) and Iran accountable... and we wanted to make sure, in a completely clear and straightforward manner, that he and the Iranian leadership understand this.' Qassem Soleimani is the commander of the Quds Force, which is the IRGC's overseas branch, and several individuals and organizations associated with it are subject to US sanctions. Earlier, on December 1, Fars News Agency reported part of the remarks from the head of Ayatollah Khamenei's office regarding this letter. Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani stated that recently, when Qassem Soleimani was in Boukamal, the CIA chief sent a letter to General Soleimani through one of his intermediaries in the region, but he said, 'I will not receive or read your letter and I do not talk to these people at all.' Soleimani himself, in a letter to the Supreme Leader on November 21, spoke about the 'lowering' of the flag of the group known as the Islamic State in the city of Boukamal and the 'end of ISIS's dominance.' Boukamal is located in eastern Syria, near the Iraqi border, and was considered one of the last strongholds of the Islamic State in the region. In the battle for Boukamal, several Iranians, including two senior members of the Quds Force, were killed. Mike Pompeo, a critic of the nuclear agreement between Tehran, the Obama administration, and five other countries, stated in his speech on Saturday that Tehran has technically complied with the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. US forces support the Iraqi government in the fight against ISIS. Iranian-backed Iraqi militias and IRGC forces have also supported the Iraqi government during these battles. The United States, France, and several other supporters of the Iraqi central government have called for the disarmament of the predominantly Shiite militia group 'Hashd al-Shaabi.' Rex Tillerson, the US Secretary of State, had asked Iranian military advisors and Iranian-backed militias two weeks ago to 'go home and let the people of Iraq take control of the situation.' A senior US official stated that Tillerson's remarks referred to the 'Hashd al-Shaabi' forces and members of the IRGC. US media recently reported that Donald Trump intends to dismiss Tillerson and appoint Pompeo as Secretary of State. The White House and Rex Tillerson have denied these reports. In this context, Rex Tillerson called for the withdrawal of Iranian 'militias' from Iraq, while Russian officials announced a 'final operation' and Qassem Soleimani spoke of the 'end of ISIS's dominance.' Rouhani stated that the future of Syria would not be in the hands of foreign forces. Khamenei responded to the letter from the commander of the Quds Force regarding the Islamic State group, stating, 'Wherever there is a need for presence to confront infidelity and arrogance, we will assist.'