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Iran Issues Interpol Arrest Request For President Trump Over Top Military Assassination

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This article is more than 3 years old.
Updated Jan 5, 2021, 09:26am EST

Topline

Iran has issued a “red notice” request to international police organization Interpol seeking the arrest of U.S. President Donald Trump and 47 other American officials for the role it says they played in the assassination of top general Qassem Soleimani in early 2020, a move that coincides with the anniversary of Soleimani’s death.

Key Facts

A spokesperson for the Iranian judiciary announced the request Tuesday, Al Jazeera reports, telling journalists that “the Islamic Republic of Iran is very seriously following up on pursuing and punishing those who ordered and executed this crime.”

It is unlikely that the international organization will grant Iran’s request, however, having already rejected a similar request issued from them in June seeking Trump and military officials for “murder and terrorism charges.”

At the time, Interpol said its constitution prevents it from carrying out “any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character.”

Key Background

Qassem Soleimani was a celebrated military leader in Iran who led the feared Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. His death last January, in a U.S. airstrike ordered by Trump, sparked shock, outrage and anger throughout the country and represented a significant escalation in tensions between the two nations that some feared may spill over into outright war. The U.S. claimed Soleimani was “actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq,” which justified “decisive defensive action.” Iran disagreed, claiming the U.S. broke international law, a position the UN special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions Agnes Callamard shared. Since the strike, Iran has demanded justice for the killing, making it clear that Trump is the primary target. 

Tangent

Tensions have escalated dramatically in the region during the first few days of 2021. The U.S. U-turned on its decision to recall an aircraft carrier from the Persian Gulf, citing threats against Trump, Iran began enriching uranium to 20% purity in violation of a nuclear proliferation pact and later stormed a South Korean tanker, keeping its crew captive.

Further Reading

Iran issues Interpol notice for 48 US officials including Trump (Al Jazeera)

Iran Says It Has Resumed Enriching Uranium To 20% Purity, Further Breaching Nuclear Pact (Forbes)

South Korean tanker was boarded by armed Iran Guard forces (AP)

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