How did Iran respond to Soleimani's death?

• A. With missile strikes on U.S. bases in Iraq.
• B. With a cyberattack on U.S. banks.
• C. By launching a naval blockade.
• D. By withdrawing from international treaties.

Answer: (C)

When studying responses to a high-profile targeted killing, the key idea is that a state will often choose a direct, tangible act of retaliation to signal resolve. In this case, Iran answered Soleimani’s death with a concrete military move: ballistic missiles were fired at U.S. bases in Iraq, including Al Asad and Erbil, as retaliation and a warning that such actions would not go unanswered. The strike occurred on January 8, 2020, causing injuries but no confirmed U.S. fatalities, and it aimed to deter further escalation rather than pursue cyber, naval, or treaty-based responses. The other options describe actions that did not occur in this incident.