"It is said that [US former President Donald] Trump authorized this criminal act, but the U.S. needed the assistance of other nations, and Israel is certainly implicated in this crime," Fantina said in an exclusive interview with IRNA.
"Israel has a long history of assassinating Iranian scientists, and is currently supporting anti-government terrorists opposing the legitimate government of Syria," he added.
"Israel’s desire to be the only powerhouse in the Middle East is challenged by Iran’s power and influence, so its participation in this criminal assassination is highly likely," the American writer said.
"But as mentioned earlier, Israel, like the United States, holds international law and human rights in contempt," he noted.
Reacting to US officials claims that the world would be a safer place after assassination of General Soleimani, Fantina said, "This claim is in no way truthful. General Soleimani was a leader in helping his government prepare to defend Iran from any invasion by the United States or Israel, and the fact that he was assassinated only helps to embolden those nations."
"They are, however, sadly mistaken if they think it was only he who could provide that defense," he stated.
"The world is also less safe because former U.S. President Donald Trump has not been held accountable for this international crime," he said.
"If one world leader can violate international law with impunity, as Trump has done, then any other world leader will be enabled to do so," he added.
"There are far too many who already do this: U.S. presidents have done so for centuries, and Israeli leaders have certainly followed, and continue to follow, that brutal and illegal example."
"The assassination of General Soleimani only increased hostility towards the United States and Israel, and put the U.S. in a worse position regarding its Middle East policies," Fantina said.
"The U.S. seeks hegemony for itself and Israel throughout that part of the world, but neglects to recognize the fact that assassinating popular military leaders does nothing to endear people to the assassin," he added.
Elaborating on the main reason behind assassinating General Soleimani, he said, "Since the start of his presidency, Trump attempted to weaken Iran, calling the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) the ‘worst deal ever’, and eventually withdrawing from it."
"He ordered sanctions against Iran to be reimposed, and constantly criticized anything Iran did militarily, even internal military training operations," he added.
It is likely that he saw General Soleimani as controlling the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) and, in his naïve and ignorant way, believed that by assassinating the general, he would destroy the IRGC, he said.
"He is completely unaware that Iranian nationalism is far greater than any one individual, and killing General Soleimani would not and could not destroy, or even weaken, the IRGC," the US author said.
"Unfortunately, his successor, current U.S. President Joe Biden, seems to be as ignorant as Trump," he stressed.
US terrorists assassinated General Soleimani, the commander of the Qods Force of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the former commander of Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), along with their companions by targeting their vehicles outside Baghdad International Airport on January 3, 2020, at the direct order from then US President Donald Trump.
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