Hossein Shariatmadari, editor-in-chief of the flagship Kayhan daily, has demanded “punishment in kind” for President Donald Trump and his aides for killing Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad in January. In the November 11 issue of Kayhan, Shariatmadari also described Joe Biden, projected winner of the United States presidential election as “evil” and harboring a “deep vendetta against the Islamic Republic of Iran.”

Kayhan readers would be aware that in the Islamic criminal code the principle of ‘qisas,’ or punishment in kind, can be applicable in cases of bodily harm. The Quranic principle is similar to “an eye for an eye” or the law of talion.

Islamic Republic officials have repeatedly called for avenging the killing of Soleimani, who commanded the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Qods Force and was a major strategist in Tehran’s regional outreach. Soleimani died when US missiles apparently fired by drones hit his convoy as it left Baghdad’s international airport, killing him and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, commander of pro-Iran Iraqi militias.

Days after Soleimani’s killing, on January 8, Iran fired ballistic missiles at US bases in Iraq in retaliation, but some hardliners in Iran say this was not enough and that a more direct punishment in kind is required.

Kayhan is financed by the office of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s office and the leader appoints its editor. Often his views are seen reflecting thinking at Khamenei’s headquarters.

Shariatmadari has been a critic of Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, which Khamenei endorsed, and remains critical of President Hassan Rouhani, a major architect of the nuclear agreement, known as the JCPOA (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action). In his November 11 piece, Shariatmadari enumerated three pre-conditions for the return of the United States to the JCPOA, from which Trump withdrew in May 2018 and which Biden has promised to re-enter.

These were the cancellation of US sanctions as required under the deal, the return of all blocked funds to Iran, and “compensation” for damages sustained by Iran. It is unclear how consistent this is with views expressed by Rouhani, who has also demanded “compensation” for losses suffered by Iran due to draconian sanctions imposed by the Trump administration since the US left the JCPOA.

Mindful of Biden’s commitment, policy-makers and analysts in Washington, Europe and the Middle East have been discussing review or expansion of the JCPOA, possibly to cover Iran’s missile program or regional role. Coupled with new Iranian demands and the refusal of the Trump administration to discuss transition with Biden’s team – exemplified by Mike Pompeo, the Secretary of State, referring to a “second Trump administration – the path to an early return to the JCPOA looks unclear.