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Iran mourns Suleimani and vows 'dark day' of vengeance against US Huge crowds led by weeping supreme leader mourn Suleimani in Iran
(32 minutes later)
Tensions rise as thousands take to streets of Tehran for funeral of general killed in drone strikeTensions rise as thousands take to streets of Tehran for funeral of general killed in drone strike
Tens of thousands of Iranians have filled the streets of Tehran for the funeral of Gen Qassem Suleimani, where his daughter said his death would bring a “dark day” for the US. Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has led vast crowds in prayers in Tehran at the funeral of Qassem Suleimani, publicly weeping for the general killed by a US drone strike last week.
US-Iran tensions are escalating after Suleimani was killed in Iraq on Friday in a US drone strike ordered by Donald Trump without congressional authorisation. Iranians, who state media said numbered in the millions, poured on to the streets of the Iranian capital to bid farewell to the commander of the Quds Force, the unit in charge of foreign operations of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards.
“Crazy Trump, don’t think that everything is over with my father’s martyrdom,” Zeinab Soleimani said in her address broadcast on Iranian state television. The scale of the crowds in Tehran shown on television seemed to be the biggest since the 1989 for the funeral of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who led the revolution that set Iran on its political collision cause with Washington.
Iran has promised to avenge the killing of Suleimani, the architect of Iran’s drive to extend its influence across the region and a national hero among many Iranians, even many of those who did not consider themselves devoted supporters of the Islamic Republic’s clerical rulers. Many Iranians considered Suleimani, who was a decorated veteran of the eight-year war with Iraq, a national hero. He was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran after Khamenei.
The scale of the crowds in Tehran shown on television mirrored the numbers who gathered in 1989 for the funeral of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. The leader’s voice cracked with emotion as he said prayers, forcing him to pause, state television showed.
In response to Iran’s warnings, Trump has threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites, including cultural targets, if Tehran attacks Americans or US assets, deepening a crisis that has heightened fears of a major Middle East conflagration. The crowds chanted “Death to America”. One poster held aloft by a mourner read: “It is our right to seek a harsh revenge,” echoing comments by Iranian military and political leaders.
The coffins of the Iranian general and the Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was also killed in Friday’s attack on Baghdad airport, were passed across the heads of mourners massed in central Tehran, many of them chanting “death to America”. The coffins of Suleimani and the Iraqi militia leader, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was also killed in Friday’s attack, were draped in their national flags and passed from hand to hand across the heads of mourners in central Tehran.
The vast procession, which television footage showed blocking off entire streets of the capital, began at Tehran University and moved towards Azadi Square, or Freedom Square.
Donald Trump has said the US military had drawn up a list of 52 targets, the same number of US embassy hostages held for 444 days after the Iranian revolution, that he said would be hit if Americans or US assets were attacked.
Trump, whose administration has imposed new sanctions on Iran since 2018 over its nuclear ambitions and other activities via proxies in the region, said the targets included cultural sites. His comments have drawn criticism from his US political opponents.In Tehran, Zeinab Soleimani, the commander’s daughter, said in her address to mourners: “America and Zionism should know that my father’s martyrdom will lead to awakening … in the resistance front and bring about a dark day for them and flatten their homes.”
Iran usually refers to Israel as the Zionist state and describes regional countries and other forces opposed to Israel and the United States as a “resistance” front. “Crazy Trump, don’t think that everything is over with my father’s martyrdom,” she said.
One of the Islamic Republic’s major regional goals, namely to drive US forces out of neighbouring Iraq, came a step closer on Sunday when the Iraqi parliament backed a recommendation by the prime minister for all foreign troops to be ordered out.One of the Islamic Republic’s major regional goals, namely to drive US forces out of neighbouring Iraq, came a step closer on Sunday when the Iraqi parliament backed a recommendation by the prime minister for all foreign troops to be ordered out.
“Despite the internal and external difficulties that we might face, it remains best for Iraq on principle and practically,” said the Iraqi caretaker prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, who resigned in November amid anti-government protests.“Despite the internal and external difficulties that we might face, it remains best for Iraq on principle and practically,” said the Iraqi caretaker prime minister, Adel Abdul Mahdi, who resigned in November amid anti-government protests.
Iraq’s rival Shia leaders, including those opposed to Iranian influence, have united since Friday’s attack in calling for the expulsion of US troops.Iraq’s rival Shia leaders, including those opposed to Iranian influence, have united since Friday’s attack in calling for the expulsion of US troops.
Esmail Qaani, the new head of the Quds Force, the Revolutionary Guards’ unit in charge of activities abroad, said Iran would continue Suleimani’s path and said “the only compensation for us would be to remove America from the region”.Esmail Qaani, the new head of the Quds Force, the Revolutionary Guards’ unit in charge of activities abroad, said Iran would continue Suleimani’s path and said “the only compensation for us would be to remove America from the region”.
Prayers at Suleimani’s funeral in Tehran, which will later move to his southern home city of Kerman, were led by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Suleimani was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran behind Khamenei.
Adding to tensions, Iran said it was taking another step back from commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers, a pact from which the US withdrew in 2018.Adding to tensions, Iran said it was taking another step back from commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal with six major powers, a pact from which the US withdrew in 2018.
Washington has since imposed tough sanctions on Iran, describing its policy as “maximum pressure” and saying it wanted to drive down Iranian oil exports – the main source of government revenues – to zero.Washington has since imposed tough sanctions on Iran, describing its policy as “maximum pressure” and saying it wanted to drive down Iranian oil exports – the main source of government revenues – to zero.
Talking to reporters onboard Air Force One on the way to Washington from Florida on Sunday, Trump stood by his remarks to include cultural sites on his list of potential targets, despite drawing criticism from US politicians.Talking to reporters onboard Air Force One on the way to Washington from Florida on Sunday, Trump stood by his remarks to include cultural sites on his list of potential targets, despite drawing criticism from US politicians.
“They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn’t work that way,” Trump said.“They’re allowed to kill our people. They’re allowed to torture and maim our people. They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural sites? It doesn’t work that way,” Trump said.