This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/body-of-commander-slain-by-us-strike-arrives-in-iran-to-crowds-of-mourners/2020/01/05/4ca3281a-2f17-11ea-bffe-020c88b3f120_story.html

The article has changed 17 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Iraq’s prime minister says ‘urgent measures’ should be taken to remove foreign forces Iran announces it is suspending all commitments to the 2015 nuclear deal
(about 2 hours later)
BAGHDAD — Iraq's prime minister urged parliament on Sunday to take "urgent measures" to force the withdrawal of foreign forces following a U.S. drone strike that killed a senior Iranian commander and key Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad last week. BREAKING: Iran's government said Sunday it was taking its final step away from the accord it negotiated with world powers, including the United States.
In an address to the legislature, Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi recommended that the government establish a timetable for the departure of foreign troops, including the members of the U.S.-led coalition to fight the Islamic State, "for the sake of our national sovereignty." It plans to abandon limits on uranium enrichment, research and development and its stockpile of nuclear fuel. Iran will continue to cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency, the United Nations nuclear watchdog.
"What happened was a political assassination," Abdul Mahdi said of the U.S. strike that targeted Iran's elite Quds Force commander, Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, as he traveled in a convoy near the Baghdad airport. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Lawmakers responded by passing a nonbinding resolution calling on the government to end the foreign troop presence in Iraq. The United States and Iraq cooperate under a strategic framework agreement whose cancellation requires binding legislation. Iraq’s caretaker government is not legally authorized to sign such a law, Iraqi legal experts said. BAGHDAD — Iraq's caretaker prime minister urged parliament on Sunday to take "urgent measures" to force the withdrawal of foreign forces following a U.S. drone strike that killed a senior Iranian commander and a key Iraqi militia leader in Baghdad last week.
The vote Sunday did not immediately imperil the U.S. presence in Iraq, but highlighted the headwinds the Trump administration faces after the strikes, which were seen in Iraq as a violation of sovereignty and as a dangerous escalation by governments across the Middle East. In an address to the legislature, Adel Abdul Mahdi recommended that the government establish a timetable for the departure of foreign troops, including the members of the U.S.-led coalition fighting the Islamic State militant group, "for the sake of our national sovereignty."
In a sign of the spiraling consequences, the U.S.-led coalition said it had paused its training mission in Iraq because of "repeated rocket attacks over the last two months" by the Iran-backed militia, Kataib Hezbollah. It would now focus on protecting its bases from attack, the coalition said in a statement. "What happened was a political assassination," Abdul Mahdi said of the U.S. strike that targeted Maj. Gen. Qasem Soleimani, commander of Iran's elite Quds Force, as he traveled in a convoy near the Baghdad airport.
"This has limited our capacity to conduct training with partners and to support their operations against [the Islamic State]," it said. "We have therefore paused these activities." Lawmakers responded by passing a nonbinding resolution calling on the government to end the foreign troop presence in Iraq. But Abdul Mahdi, who resigned in November and has been serving in a caretaker role, is not legally authorized to sign the bill into law.
Iran, meanwhile, said Sunday it would limit its response to the attack to U.S. military targets. As a result, the vote Sunday did not immediately imperil the U.S. presence in Iraq, but it highlights the headwinds the Trump administration faces after the strike, which was seen in Iraq as a violation of sovereignty and as a dangerous escalation by governments across the Middle East.
In a sign of the spiraling consequences, the U.S.-led coalition said it had paused its training mission in Iraq because of "repeated rocket attacks over the last two months" by the Iran-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia. It would now focus on protecting its bases from attack, the coalition said in a statement.
"This has limited our capacity to conduct training with partners and to support their operations" against the Islamic State, it said. "We have therefore paused these activities."
Iran, meanwhile, said Sunday that it would limit its response to the drone attack to U.S. military targets.
"The response for sure will be military and against military sites," Hossein Dehghan, the military adviser to Iran's supreme leader, said in an interview with CNN. "The only thing that can end this period of war is for the Americans to receive a blow that is equal to the blow they have inflicted.""The response for sure will be military and against military sites," Hossein Dehghan, the military adviser to Iran's supreme leader, said in an interview with CNN. "The only thing that can end this period of war is for the Americans to receive a blow that is equal to the blow they have inflicted."
Iran has vowed revenge against the U.S. But it seems to be in no hurry.Iran has vowed revenge against the U.S. But it seems to be in no hurry.
Deghan’s remarks came as President Trump on Twitter Saturday threatened to strike “52 Iranian sites … some at a very high level & important to Iran and the Iranian culture” should Tehran retaliate against Americans or U.S. interests in the region. Iran has 24 locations on the U.N. list of cultural world heritage sites. Deghan’s remarks came as President Trump threatened Saturday on Twitter to strike “52 Iranian sites … some at a very high level & important to Iran and the Iranian culture” should Tehran retaliate against Americans or U.S. interests in the region. Iran has 24 locations on the U.N. list of cultural world heritage sites.
If Trump were to carry out his threats, Dehghan said, “no American military staff, no American political center, no American military base, no American vessel will be safe.”If Trump were to carry out his threats, Dehghan said, “no American military staff, no American political center, no American military base, no American vessel will be safe.”
In a sign that concern about the consequences of Soleimani’s death is shared widely by U.S. allies, NATO is convening an emergency meeting of its ambassadors Monday to discuss the situation in Iraq and security more broadly. In addition to the suspension of alliance training programs in the country, several NATO nations have scrambled to protect their troops and citizens there. U.S. allies widely share concerns about the consequences of Soleimani’s death. NATO will convene an emergency meeting of its ambassadors on Monday to discuss the situation in Iraq. NATO suspended its training programs in the country, and several member nations have scrambled to protect their troops and citizens here.
In Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Embassy released a security alert Sunday advising Americans of “the heightened risk of missile and drone attacks” against both civilian and military targets.In Saudi Arabia, the U.S. Embassy released a security alert Sunday advising Americans of “the heightened risk of missile and drone attacks” against both civilian and military targets.
The United States blamed Iran for a brazen drone and cruise missile attack on Saudi state oil facilities in September, a strike that knocked half of the nation’s oil production offline.The United States blamed Iran for a brazen drone and cruise missile attack on Saudi state oil facilities in September, a strike that knocked half of the nation’s oil production offline.
While Saudi officials have long urged the United States to take stronger action against what they say is Iran’s unchecked expansionism in the region, they have also expressed discomfort at the rising tensions between Washington and Tehran.
Abdul Mahdi suggested Sunday that Iran and the Saudis had been engaged in dialogue to tamp down their feud, with Iraq playing the role of mediator. Abdul Mahdi said he had been expecting to meet with Soleimani on the day he was killed. “He came to deliver me a message from Iran, responding to the message we delivered from Saudi Arabia to Iran,” the prime minister said, without providing details.
In Iran, Soleimani’s body was flown in a flag-draped coffin to the southwestern city of Ahvaz, following a funeral procession in Baghdad and Iraq’s twin Shiite shrine cities, Karbala and Najaf. It was later carried to the northeastern city of Mashhad, home to the shrine of Imam Reza, a revered figure in Shiite Islam. Iran is ruled by a Shiite theocracy.In Iran, Soleimani’s body was flown in a flag-draped coffin to the southwestern city of Ahvaz, following a funeral procession in Baghdad and Iraq’s twin Shiite shrine cities, Karbala and Najaf. It was later carried to the northeastern city of Mashhad, home to the shrine of Imam Reza, a revered figure in Shiite Islam. Iran is ruled by a Shiite theocracy.
Iran’s new Quds Force commander brings continuity to the post held by his slain predecessorIran’s new Quds Force commander brings continuity to the post held by his slain predecessor
Footage from Ahvaz broadcast on Iranian state television showed tens of thousands of black-clad mourners waving flags and chanting religious slogans. The channel also juxtaposed the images of the crowds with a video of a younger Soleimani reciting Persian poetry and Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency described the scene as “glorious.” Footage broadcast on Iranian state television showed tens of thousands of black-clad mourners waving flags and chanting religious slogans. Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic News Agency described the scene as “glorious.”
“All schools and businesses are closed today — he was popular here and even more popular now,” said Farnaz, 33, a computer engineer and resident of Ahvaz. Like other Iranians contacted Sunday, she spoke on the condition that her full name not be used so she could talk freely about the death of a senior military commander. “All schools and businesses are closed today — he was popular here and even more popular now,” said Farnaz, 33, a computer engineer and resident of Ahvaz, referring to Soleimani. Like other Iranians contacted Sunday, she spoke on the condition that her full name not be used so she could talk freely about his death.
“People here have felt insecure and threatened by other countries for decades, so they saw Soleimani as an important and charismatic commander who was protecting their security,” she said. “People here … saw Soleimani as an important and charismatic commander who was protecting their security,” she said.
Still, Ahvaz and other cities in oil-rich Khuzestan province, home to a large ethnic Arab minority, have a history of anti-government unrest. In November, when protests over cuts to fuel subsidies gripped Iranian cities, security forces launched a brutal crackdown and gunned down scores of demonstrators in Mahshahr, some 70 miles south of Ahvaz. On Sunday, an unverified video posted online showed masked youth setting fire to a billboard commemorating Soleimani. Still, Ahvaz and other cities in oil-rich Khuzestan province, home to a large ethnic Arab minority, have a history of anti-government unrest. On Sunday, an unverified video posted online showed masked youths setting fire to a billboard commemorating Soleimani.
The slain commander’s procession will continue Monday to the holy city of Qom and the capital, Tehran, where Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei will lead prayers at the ceremony. Soleimani will be buried in his hometown, Kerman, on Tuesday. The slain commander’s procession will continue Monday to the holy city of Qom and the capital, Tehran, where Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, will lead prayers at the ceremony. Soleimani will be buried in his hometown, Kerman, on Tuesday.
[Trump threatens reprisals against Iran should U.S. assets or Americans come under attack] Trump threatens reprisals against Iran should U.S. assets or Americans come under attack’
In Mashhad, home to the shrine of Imam Reza, a revered figure in Shiite Islam, residents described a city paralyzed by preparations for the funeral. Many of those in the streets hailed from Liwa al-Fatemiyoun, a military brigade of mostly Afghan Shiite Hazaras recruited and equipped by the Revolutionary Guard, according to residents. In Europe, meanwhile, leaders continued to try to salvage the Iran nuclear deal, whose already limited chances of survival have probably been dealt a grievous blow by Soleimani’s killing.
“People have mixed feelings about his death,” said 27-year-old Moen, a construction worker. “Most of the people around me are sad, but also afraid that the recent [anti-government] protests and hundreds of people killed were in vain.” On Sunday, E.U. foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced that he had invited Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif to Brussels to discuss the future of the accord even as Iran indicated plans to further reduce its commitments to the deal.
In Europe, meanwhile, leaders continued to try to salvage the Iran nuclear deal, whose already limited chances of survival have likely been dealt a grievous blow by Soleimani’s killing.
On Sunday, E.U. foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced he had invited Iranian Foreign Minister Mohamed Javad Zarif to Brussels to discuss the future of the accord even as Iran indicated plans to further reduce its commitments to the deal.
Borrell intends to “keep the unity of the remaining participants in support of the agreement and its full implementation by all parties,” his office said in a statement.Borrell intends to “keep the unity of the remaining participants in support of the agreement and its full implementation by all parties,” his office said in a statement.
Cunningham reported from Istanbul. Kareem Fahim in Istanbul and Michael Birnbaum in Antwerp contributed to this report.Cunningham reported from Istanbul. Kareem Fahim in Istanbul and Michael Birnbaum in Antwerp contributed to this report.
How Trump decided to kill a top Iranian generalHow Trump decided to kill a top Iranian general
Iranians demonstrate in support of slain military commanderIranians demonstrate in support of slain military commander
Why Soleimani’s killing is different from other targeted attacks by U.S.Why Soleimani’s killing is different from other targeted attacks by U.S.
Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the worldToday’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world
Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign newsLike Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news