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| Qasem Soleimani: Stampede kills 50 mourners at burial in Iran | Qasem Soleimani: Stampede kills 50 mourners at burial in Iran |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Fifty people have been killed and more than 200 injured in a stampede as Iranians gathered for the burial of a leading commander killed in a US drone strike. | Fifty people have been killed and more than 200 injured in a stampede as Iranians gathered for the burial of a leading commander killed in a US drone strike. |
| The deaths in Qasem Soleimani's hometown of Kerman led to the ceremony being delayed. | The deaths in Qasem Soleimani's hometown of Kerman led to the ceremony being delayed. |
| The burial is the last in a series of funeral events that have brought millions on to the streets in Iran. | |
| Soleimani's killing has raised fears of a conflict between the US and Iran. | Soleimani's killing has raised fears of a conflict between the US and Iran. |
| The head of the Quds force was tasked with defending and projecting Iranian interests abroad, and was hailed as a hero by many in his home country. Immediately after his death, Iran threatened retaliation. | The head of the Quds force was tasked with defending and projecting Iranian interests abroad, and was hailed as a hero by many in his home country. Immediately after his death, Iran threatened retaliation. |
| To the US, Soleimani was a terrorist, and in explaining why he ordered the strike, President Donald Trump said he was acting on an "imminent" threat. | To the US, Soleimani was a terrorist, and in explaining why he ordered the strike, President Donald Trump said he was acting on an "imminent" threat. |
| What happened in Kerman? | What happened in Kerman? |
| The crush in the south-eastern Iranian city happened at the start of a funeral procession that had drawn vast numbers of people on Tuesday morning, ahead of the planned burial. | The crush in the south-eastern Iranian city happened at the start of a funeral procession that had drawn vast numbers of people on Tuesday morning, ahead of the planned burial. |
| Eyewitnesses told BBC Persian the streets were not wide enough to hold the number of people and, with other roads closed off, there was nowhere to escape to. | Eyewitnesses told BBC Persian the streets were not wide enough to hold the number of people and, with other roads closed off, there was nowhere to escape to. |
| A coroner quoted on Iran's Isna news agency put the death toll at 50, with those injured numbering more than 200. | A coroner quoted on Iran's Isna news agency put the death toll at 50, with those injured numbering more than 200. |
| Video online showed people on the ground, their faces covered by clothing. | Video online showed people on the ground, their faces covered by clothing. |
| Iranian media later reported that the burial had resumed. Video footage showed the procession of Soleimani's casket. People threw items of clothing which officials touched against the casket before returning them. | Iranian media later reported that the burial had resumed. Video footage showed the procession of Soleimani's casket. People threw items of clothing which officials touched against the casket before returning them. |
| Top Iranian officials renewed their threats of revenge. "The martyr Qasem Soleimani is more powerful... now that he is dead," the Revolutionary Guards' top general, Maj Gen Hossein Salami, told crowds in Kerman. | Top Iranian officials renewed their threats of revenge. "The martyr Qasem Soleimani is more powerful... now that he is dead," the Revolutionary Guards' top general, Maj Gen Hossein Salami, told crowds in Kerman. |
| The Guards were set up to defend Iran's Islamic system and are a major political and military force. The Quds Force is its overseas operations arm. | The Guards were set up to defend Iran's Islamic system and are a major political and military force. The Quds Force is its overseas operations arm. |
| Mourners in Kerman chanted "death to America" and "death to Trump", reporters there said. | Mourners in Kerman chanted "death to America" and "death to Trump", reporters there said. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
| A show of unity? | A show of unity? |
| Analysis by Kasra Naji, BBC Persian | Analysis by Kasra Naji, BBC Persian |
| Only seven weeks ago, Iran witnessed the biggest and most violent anti-government demonstrations in decades. Security forces killed anywhere between 330 and 1,500 protesters in more than 100 cities across the country. Thousands more were injured and arrested. | Only seven weeks ago, Iran witnessed the biggest and most violent anti-government demonstrations in decades. Security forces killed anywhere between 330 and 1,500 protesters in more than 100 cities across the country. Thousands more were injured and arrested. |
| So why have so many people come out to pay homage to Soleimani, in spite of widespread discontent? | So why have so many people come out to pay homage to Soleimani, in spite of widespread discontent? |
| There is no doubt that feelings are running high. Arguably the most important man in the country's armed forces has been assassinated by the US, which for many is the arch-enemy of Iran. | There is no doubt that feelings are running high. Arguably the most important man in the country's armed forces has been assassinated by the US, which for many is the arch-enemy of Iran. |
| But it is also clear that the government launched a massive effort to mobilise as many people as possible. A huge turnout sends a strong signal to Donald Trump that the government enjoys widespread support. | But it is also clear that the government launched a massive effort to mobilise as many people as possible. A huge turnout sends a strong signal to Donald Trump that the government enjoys widespread support. |
| It sends the message that a war with Iran would rally Iranians behind their leaders in the event of foreign aggression, and that any war could well be long and costly. | It sends the message that a war with Iran would rally Iranians behind their leaders in the event of foreign aggression, and that any war could well be long and costly. |
| What are the latest US-Iran exchanges? | What are the latest US-Iran exchanges? |
| In an interview, Foreign Minister Zarif called Soleimani's killing an "act of war" and said Iran's response would be against "legitimate targets". | In an interview, Foreign Minister Zarif called Soleimani's killing an "act of war" and said Iran's response would be against "legitimate targets". |
| Mr Zarif said President Trump had been "misled" by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. | Mr Zarif said President Trump had been "misled" by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. |
| "[Pompeo] believes people were dancing in the streets of Tehran and Baghdad... Now I think that he has seen the sea of humanity in Iraq and Iran yesterday. Doesn't he want to admit that he's been misdirecting American foreign policy?" Mr Zarif asked. | "[Pompeo] believes people were dancing in the streets of Tehran and Baghdad... Now I think that he has seen the sea of humanity in Iraq and Iran yesterday. Doesn't he want to admit that he's been misdirecting American foreign policy?" Mr Zarif asked. |
| On Tuesday, Mr Pompeo said at a briefing that if Iran made another "bad choice", President Trump would act in a "decisive, serious manner". | On Tuesday, Mr Pompeo said at a briefing that if Iran made another "bad choice", President Trump would act in a "decisive, serious manner". |
| He was also questioned about Mr Trump's controversial threat to target Iranian cultural sites. | He was also questioned about Mr Trump's controversial threat to target Iranian cultural sites. |
| Mr Pompeo denied he and other top officials had contradicted Mr Trump on the issue and said it was Iran's leaders who had damaged Persian culture. | Mr Pompeo denied he and other top officials had contradicted Mr Trump on the issue and said it was Iran's leaders who had damaged Persian culture. |
| But he again said US military action would be within international law. | But he again said US military action would be within international law. |
| Mr Pompeo also referred to media reports that Soleimani had been on a peace mission to Baghdad at the time he was killed, saying: "We know that wasn't true." | Mr Pompeo also referred to media reports that Soleimani had been on a peace mission to Baghdad at the time he was killed, saying: "We know that wasn't true." |