Here’s what’s happening in Iran right now
Iran is getting ready to hold services for slain general Qasem Soleimani, who was revered as one of the country’s most powerful men.
People have flooded the streets in the city of Ahvaz, some waving large flags and banners. Earlier in the day, Soleimani’s body arrived at Ahvaz International Airport.
In the Iranian Parliament, politicians wore black shirts as the session started Sunday, with members shouting condemnations and threats at the US.
It’s important to remember: While the US saw Soleimani as the head of a terrorist organization, many in Iran considered him as a hero. Iran is holding three days of mourning for his death.
Shopping malls throughout Iran will be closed on Monday — the third day of mourning — while exams at the University of Tehran will be postponed.
Here’s what the streets of Ahvaz look like:
Analysis: The future of Iran’s nuclear deal looks grim
The sequence of events that culminated in the killing of Qasem Soleimani arguably began on May 8, 2018, when President Donald Trump announced the withdrawal of the United States from the international nuclear pact with Iran.
“This was a horrible, one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made,” Trump said as he withdrew from the deal. “It didn’t bring calm, it didn’t bring peace, and it never will.”
The other parties to the deal — China, Russia, the Europeans and Iran — disagreed and stayed the course. But the reimposition of draconian sanctions by the US, sanctions that had been largely lifted as Iran’s reward for signing up to the deal, gnawed away at its credibility.
As tensions grew, the agreement known as the JCPOA began to fray at the edges.
Now, the prognosis for the JCPOA looks poor. At best it’s in intensive care; at worst it may struggle to survive the year.
Read more about the events that led up to Soleimani’s death — and the prognosis for the nuclear deal here.
Crowds are gathering ahead of Soleimani’s funeral in Iran
There are already crowds on the streets of the Iranian city of Ahvaz ahead of top general Qasem Soleimani‘s funeral, which is set to begin in about two hours.
Live feeds posted on Twitter from Press TV — an English-language Iranian broadcaster — show large numbers of people gathering.
The bodies of Soleimani and Iraqi paramilitary deputy chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis arrived at Ahvaz International Airport early Sunday.
Although the US blames Soleimani for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members, the deceased Quds Force commander is revered in Iran and his death in a US strike on Friday has prompted an outpouring of grief.
Here’s the scene in Ahvaz:
Trump: “If they attack again … we will hit them harder than they have ever been hit before!”
In a series of tweets, President Donald Trump has reiterated his warning to Iran not to retaliate in the aftermath of Friday’s deadly strike on Qasem Soleimani.
Claiming the US had “just spent Two Trillion Dollars on Military Equipment,” Trump added in an early Sunday tweet: “If Iran attacks an American Base, or any American, we will be sending some of that brand new beautiful equipment their way…and without hesitation!”
Donald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrump
The United States just spent Two Trillion Dollars on Military Equipment. We are the biggest and by far the BEST in the World! If Iran attacks an American Base, or any American, we will be sending some of that brand new beautiful equipment their way…and without hesitation!
Iran has vowed revenge for the drone strike on its top general in Baghdad. On Saturday, the spokesman of the Iranian Armed Forces, Brig. Gen. Abolfazl Shekarchi, said Iran will patiently set up a plan “to respond to this terrorist act in a crushing and powerful manner.”
In a tweet on Saturday night, Trump wrote: “They attacked us, and we hit back. If they attack again, which I would strongly advise them not to do, we will hit them harder than they have ever been hit before!”
Donald J. Trump✔@realDonaldTrump
They attacked us, & we hit back. If they attack again, which I would strongly advise them not to do, we will hit them harder than they have ever been hit before! https://twitter.com/dancrenshawtx/status/1213583859402657793 …
Dan Crenshaw✔@DanCrenshawTX
For those claiming there’s “no plan,” that this was “reckless”:
Step #1 of any strategy is to stop letting terrorist regimes attack us without repercussion.
Why is this basic truth of foreign policy so controversial?https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/01/03/petraeus-on-qassem-suleimani-killing-says-trump-helped-reestablish-deterrence/ …
Recap: Who was Qasem Soleimani, and why was he so important?
In Iran, he was a hero — brave, charismatic and beloved by the troops. But to the United States, Qasem Soleimani was a ruthless killer.
Soleimani — who was killed Friday by a US airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump — was a controversial figure.
One of Iran’s most powerful men, he headed the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, an elite unit that handles Iran’s overseas operations — and one deemed to be a foreign terrorist organization by the US.
Soleimani started his front line military career in the Iran-Iraq war during the early 1980s. He went on to become an indispensable figure in Iran, and played an instrumental role in spreading its influence in the Middle East.
There’s been an outpouring of grief for him in Iran, which is holding three days of mourning. His funeral will be held later on Sunday.
Read more about him here.
