What substantial can they possibly do to the US? lol
Anything they do will come back on them 10 fold and they know it.
Whatever they've been doing that's worked since Iraq collapsed after the US/UK failed enormously by reducing every institution to rubble I suppose, that's been pretty substantial so far, again they operate asymmetrically because they aren't stupid. If they can get Iraq to evacuate US personnel
democratically, that's pretty much a win for Khomeini, whether it's a fair trade for his general... that's up to him.
They've typically stayed away from foreign attacks beyond their immediate sphere as well, though that's probably because Sunni/Wahhabi terrorists do that without any need for Iran to waste effort/resources on it. Maybe they'll take a jab that way, but i doubt it.
Though I wonder if actually killing the general was a benefit for Khomeini, he was basically the military equal, had unrest went too far in Iran to such a degree the clergy was seen as needing overthrown, Qasem might have used it take power and a less potent figure might be less inclined to do that. Though conversely Qasem might also have been so loyal that any replacement is a danger.
Suppose it'll be interesting how this evolves, I do hope one day the Ayatollahs and IRGC get ousted, Iranians are such nice people.
