Melina Asadi is a testament to Israeli, American crimes: General Vahidi

The Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) says the martyrdom of 3-year-old Melina Asadi in recent terrorist riots is proof of the crimes of the Zionist regime and the United States against the Iranian people.

General Ahmad Vahidi made the remarks during a visit to the province of Kermanshah, where he met with the family of the young toddler who lost her life during recent unrest.

While praising the resilience of the Asadi family, General Vahidi said their steadfastness represents the broader endurance of the Iranian nation.

"You are examples of the Iranian people standing with authority," Vahidi said during the visit.

"This standing is a testament to the innocence of our nation. It shows the depth of the hatred global enemies harbor, to the point where they target small children like our dear three-year-old Melina."

Smallest coffins are the heaviest: The three youngest victims of foreign-backed riots in Iran

Peaceful protests in Iranian cities turned violent earlier this month as foreign-backed terrorists targeted civilians. Among the victims were children Bahar, Melina, and Anila, whose lives were brutally cut short.

Melina Asadi was martyred on January 8 during a wave of US-Israeli-backed terrorist riots across the country.

In early January, Trump had threatened Iran with attacks if the country harmed what he called “peaceful protesters.”

Only days later, on January 8 and 9, armed groups launched coordinated attacks on police stations, military bases, and other sensitive sites, as well as civilian infrastructure, in several cities.

Iranian officials say the attacks were designed to create mass casualties and destabilize urban centers across the country.

Officials have repeatedly criticized Western media outlets for circulating false casualty figures and blaming the Iranian government.

Some Western reports have claimed up to 30,000 deaths following what they describe as “peaceful protests.”

However, official Iranian records show 3,117 people were killed in the riots, including 2,427 civilians and security personnel, whom Tehran says were killed by terrorists.

‘Iran indebted to martyrs’

The commander also met with the family of Seyyed Mojtaba Hosseini-Nasab, a member of the IRGC Aerospace Force’s air defense unit, who was martyred on June 14, 2025, during the 12-day war.

"The authority of the Islamic Republic today is indebted to the blood of our martyrs," Vahidi stated.

"The narratives of families of martyrs are stories of faith, perseverance, and the resistance of the Iranian people."

General Vahidi said serving the families of martyrs is a duty and an honor for the military leadership.

He said the province of Kermanshah remains a frontline of devotion, having recently offered 66 martyrs in the path of defending the country.

Iran was targeted by a surprise US-Israeli aggression in June, which left over a thousand people dead and damaged the country’s military, nuclear, civilian, and scientific infrastructure.

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