“A Martyr Returns Home”: Iranian Sports Broadcaster Mourns Qassem Soleimani in Poignant Tribute

According to Saed News, the funeral of Major General Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike near Baghdad in January 2020, stirred waves of emotion across Iran. Among the flood of tributes from political and cultural figures, an especially poignant message came from Adel Ferdowsipour, the celebrated Iranian sports journalist and television presenter, who shares Soleimani’s Kerman roots.

The general’s body was laid to rest in the city’s Martyrs' Cemetery, in accordance with his will. Ferdowsipour’s statement—shared with domestic outlet Khabar Online—struck a national chord with its evocative blend of patriotism and personal sentiment. “If Iran ceases to exist, may my body not endure,” he wrote, borrowing from a classical Persian verse. “Kerman now hosts a man whose departure has plunged beloved Iran into mourning. Welcome home, my fellow townsman.”

The message underscores the depth of emotion surrounding Soleimani’s legacy in Iran, where he remains a polarizing yet widely revered figure. While many in the West view him through the prism of geopolitical confrontation, domestically he is celebrated as a national hero who played a key role in Iran’s regional military operations and counterterrorism strategy. Ferdowsipour’s homage reflects both a personal connection and a broader national grief that continues to shape Iran’s political and cultural narrative.