US ambassador hosts Iranian dissidents grateful for Soleimani strike

Envoy says Soleimani was a “cheerleader of the genocide in Syria.”

JANUARY 7, 2020 18:35

U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Allen Grenell is pictured in Berlin, Germany, June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018. (photo credit: REUTERS) — U.S. Ambassador to Germany Richard Allen Grenell is pictured in Berlin, Germany, June 4, 2018. Picture taken June 4, 2018.

(photo credit: REUTERS)

The US government’s highest-profile ambassador in Europe, Richard Grenell – US ambassador to Germany – hosted Iranian dissidents in Berlin on Monday who praised the American action to eliminate the US and EU-designated terrorist Qasem Soleimani.

The embassy tweeted “Today, Amb. Grenell accepted thank you notes and homemade signs of support from Iranians grateful for US actions.”

Today, Amb. Grenell accepted #thankyou notes and homemade signs of support from #Iranians grateful for U.S. actions. pic.twitter.com/nJ3Hsgz2Mz
— US-Botschaft Berlin (@usbotschaft) January 6, 2020

The US military neutralized Iranian General terrorist Qasem Soleimani on Friday in Iraq because, the Pentagon claimed, he was planning attacks against American diplomats.

In a Monday interview with Bild, a German tabloid newspaper, Grenell said Soleimani was a “cheerleader of the genocide in Syria.”

The US embassy noted on its Twitter account that ”The Council of the European Union just two months ago reaffirmed its sanctions against Qasem Soleimani for his involvement in terrorist acts.”

Grenell, who is being considered as the next secretary of state should the current top diplomat Mike Pompeo run for Senate, has garnered support of the Iranian diaspora community that seeks a free, democratic Iran.

The German-Iranian dissident Nila Behzadi wrote on Twitter: “We met the incredible US ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell! We delivered Iranians’ overwhelming support messages for president Trump & and his decisive action to counter Iran regime terrorism.”

We met the incredible US ambassador to Germany, @RichardGrenell!We delivered Iranians overwhelming support messages for president Trump @realDonaldTrump & his decisive action to counter Iran regime terrorism.#Qassem_Soleimani #USA #Iran https://t.co/F6vkLNHqMm
— Nila Behzadi (@NilaBehzadi) January 6, 2020

Grenell’s support of Iranian dissidents stands in sharp contrast to the German government. Last February, Chancellor Angela Merkel’s administration sent representatives to Iran’s embassy in Berlin to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Foreign Ministry State Minister Niels Annen, who attended the event, defended his participation. The Bild charged in a 2019 article that Annen contributes to “making antisemitism socially respectable” in Germany.

Merkel has refused to ban Hezbollah in Germany where 1,050 of the terrorist group’s operatives raise funds and recruit new members, according to German intelligence.

Hezbollah is Iran’s chief proxy in the Middle East.

Grenell has used every opportunity to urge German officials to outlaw Hezbollah in Germany amid rising antisemitism in the federal republic. Hezbollah has been working to spread its anti-Israel and anti-Jewish ideology in Germany, according to German intelligence reports.