Iran Issues Arrest Warrant For Donald Trump Over Fatal Drone Strike

Iran has issued an arrest warrant for US president Donald Trump following the death of General Qassem Soleimani in January, 2020.

Iran has also requested for Interpol to publish a red notice for the US president, with prosecutor general of Tehran Ali Alghasimehr, stating arrest warrants had been issued for 36 people connected with the fatal drone strike that killed General Soleimani. President Trump is at the top of this list.

A red notice is a request made to law enforcement authorities across the globe to locate and arrest an individual pending extradition, surrender or other legal action. This notice is carried out at the discretion of local authorities.

The official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted Alghasimehr as having made the following statement, outlining the charges of ‘murder and terrorism’ directed at Trump and others:

Thirty-six people who were involved in the assassination of Hajj Qassem were identified, including political and military officials from the United States and other governments, have been ordered by the judiciary to be given a red alert to Interpol

This is a political nature. This has nothing to do with national security, international peace or promoting stability… It is a propaganda stunt that no-one takes seriously.

General Soleimani was killed in Baghdad, during a drone strike close to Baghdad International Airport, which had been carried out on the orders of president Trump.

Trump claimed the leading military commander had been responsible for the killing of hundreds of American soldiers, and alleged that he had been planning further attacks.

At the time, the Pentagon released the following statement, where they described the attack as a ‘decisive defensive’:

General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region.

In retaliation to the deadly drone strike, Iran – who viewed the incident as an ‘assassination’ – fired ballistic missiles at Iraqi military bases where US forces were based.

Although it doesn’t look likely that Trump will actually end up getting arrested, this symbolic move highlights rising tensions between Iran and the US.

The relationship between the two countries became increasingly strained after Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from Tehran’s nuclear deal with global leaders. The drone strike that killed General Soleimani came after months of bad feeling between the states.