Qassem Soleimani: Iran issues arrest warrant for Donald Trump over drone strike killing

Iran has asked Interpol for help in detaining the president, but he faces no danger of arrest.

Monday 29 June 2020 15:14, UK

Donald Trump walks to the White House residence after exiting Marine One
Image: Iran wants to see President Trump punished over the killing of the Iranian general
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Iran has reportedly issued an arrest warrant for US President Donald Trump over the drone strike that killed a top Iranian general - and has asked Interpol to help detain him.

Mr Trump and more than 30 others have been accused of carrying out the attack on 3 January that killed General Qassem Soleimani.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said they face "murder and terrorism charges", the state-run IRNA news agency reported.

But the US has called the move a "propaganda stunt".

Major General Qassem Soleimani (R) with Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (L) in 2015
Image: General Qassem Soleimani was killed in January

The president faces no danger of arrest and it is unlikely Interpol would grant Iran's request as its guidelines forbid "any intervention or activities of a political" nature.

However, the charges underscore heightened tensions between Iran and the US since Mr Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran's nuclear deal with world powers, including the UK.

Mr Alqasimehr was quoted as saying Iran requested a "red notice" for Mr Trump and the others, which represents the highest-level arrest requested by Interpol.

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With "red notice alerts", local authorities arrest people on behalf of the country that requests it. The notices cannot force countries to arrest or extradite suspects, but can put government leaders on the spot and limit suspects' travel.

After receiving a request, Interpol meets and discusses whether or not to share the information with its member states.

Mr Alqasimehr stressed Iran would pursue Mr Trump's prosecution beyond his presidency.

A picture taken on January 13, 2020 during a press tour organised by the US-led coalition fighting the remnants of the Islamic State group, shows US soldiers clearing rubble at Ain al-Asad military airbase in the western Iraqi province of Anbar. - Iran last week launched a wave of missiles at the sprawling Ain al-Asad airbase in western Iraq and a base in Arbil, capital of Iraq's autonomous Kurdish region, both hosting US and other foreign troops, in retaliation for the US killing top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in Baghdad on January 3. (Photo by Ayman HENNA / AFP) (Photo by AYMAN HENNA/AFP via Getty Images)
Image: There were a series of retaliatory airstrikes between the US and Iran

US-Iranian tensions intensified when a US citizen was killed in a rocket attack blamed on Iranian-backed militia last December.

America retaliated by launching airstrikes in Iraq against the Kataib Hezbollah militia. It is part of a group officially recognised by the Iraqi government and which played a significant role in the fight against Islamic State.

The US raids triggered mass protests outside the American embassy in Baghdad and some demonstrators tried to storm the compound.

Iranian people attend a funeral procession and burial for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani
Image: Thousands attended General Soleimani's funeral

Mr Trump authorised the killing of General Soleimani while the military commander was on a visit to Baghdad on 3 January.

He had played a fundamental role in the development of Iranian proxy militias that killed and maimed many US and British forces in Iraq following the 2003 Iraq war.

But his death sparked outrage in pro-Iranian parts of the region.

Five days later, the Iranian regime responded by firing ballistic missiles against military bases in neighbouring Iraq, where US forces were housed.

No American personnel were killed and President Trump chose not to escalate the confrontation further, bringing the two countries away from the brink of all-out war.

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