Legitimate and de-legitimate discourse and self-representation in the killing of Qasem Soleimani

Abstract EN

this study investigates the argumentative strategies employed by American Republicans, Democrats and Iranian leaders to legitimize and de-legitimize the killing of Iran Revolutionary Guards commander, Qasem Soleimani, and to represent Iran's regime as an eternal enemy to US.

For this purpose, a critical discourse analysis approach based on Wodak's Discourse Historical Approach (DHA) was applied on 12 statements of US Republicans and Democrats senators, and 3 statements of Iranian leaders taking place the day Qasem Soleimani was killed.

The results show that the arguments of the American republicans and democrats (Us) and the Iranians leaders (Them) are legitimized by topoi, and the image of Iran is still that orient who is a danger and enemy to the American people.