"Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated him," tandas Presiden Trump (Whitehouse.gov, 2020).
Artinya, Soleimani sebagai pemimpin pasukan elit Quds dianggap menyerang warga AS duluan. Sehingga, pemerintah AS merasa berhak untuk membunuhnya.