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Soleimani: Iranians flock to hometown for commander's burial Soleimani: Iranians flock to hometown for commander's burial
(about 1 hour later)
Huge numbers of black-clad mourners have turned out to pay their final respects to Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani ahead of his burial.Huge numbers of black-clad mourners have turned out to pay their final respects to Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani ahead of his burial.
Iranians estimated in their millions have already turned out in recent days for his funeral procession.
His body has now arrived in his hometown of Kerman, where he is being buried on Tuesday morning.
Soleimani was assassinated in a US drone strike in Iraq on Friday, on the orders of President Donald Trump.Soleimani was assassinated in a US drone strike in Iraq on Friday, on the orders of President Donald Trump.
His body has now arrived in his hometown of Kerman in south-eastern Iran, where he is being buried on Tuesday morning. The killing brought fears that long-standing tensions between the US and Iran could spiral into conflict.
Large crowds already turned out for a funeral procession in Tehran. Soleimani was widely considered the second most powerful man in the Iran behind Supreme Leader Khamenei. The US saw him as a terrorist.
Iran has vowed "severe revenge" for the death of Soleimani and on Sunday pulled back from the 2015 nuclear accord. In other developments:
Soleimani, 62, headed Iran's elite Quds Force, and was tasked with protecting and boosting Iran's influence in the Middle East. In Kerman, south-eastern Iran, vast numbers of people were again seen in the streets with Soleimani's body due to be buried shortly.
In his homeland, Soleimani was hailed as a national hero and widely considered the second most powerful man in the country behind Supreme Leader Khamenei. "He was seen as a great man who was ready to serve his people... He must certainly be avenged," an 18-year-old student who was there told the AFP news agency.
But not all Iranians saw him in the same positive light. On Monday, Ayatollah Khamenei led prayers at Soleimani's funeral in Tehran, at one point weeping over his coffin.
He was a hardliner and a dominant force in a regime that shot dead scores of protesters at the end of 2019. He also spent vast sums building up alliances and militias in Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq and Syria at a time when US sanctions are impoverishing many Iranians, BBC Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen says. Unconfirmed estimates from Iranian state television put the number who took to the streets of Iran's capital alone as "millions". The crowds were large enough they could be seen in satellite images.
Who was Qasem Soleimani?
Soleimani was head of the Quds force, tasked with advancing Iran's Islamic revolution abroad. He was killed leaving Baghdad airport on Friday.
In his homeland, Soleimani was hailed as a national hero.
But he was also hardliner and a dominant force in a state that shot dead scores of protesters at the end of 2019.
Soleimani supported Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the country's civil conflict, aided the Shia militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, and guided Iraqi militia groups against the Islamic State group.Soleimani supported Syria's President Bashar al-Assad in the country's civil conflict, aided the Shia militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, and guided Iraqi militia groups against the Islamic State group.
The US saw him as a terrorist, and President Trump said Soleimani was plotting "imminent" attacks on US diplomats and military personnel. Justifying the strike President Trump said Soleimani was plotting "imminent" attacks on US diplomats and military personnel.
How was he mourned in Tehran? What has happened since his death?
State television showed huge crowds in Tehran for Monday's event. It said "millions" had shown up, although this figure is yet to be verified. Immediately after his death Iran threatened retaliation and officials have kept up the rhetoric. The leader of Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Tuesday threatened to "set ablaze" places supported by the US.
Mourners passed Soleimani's coffin over their heads and "death to America" chants were heard. On Sunday, Iran declared it would no longer abide by any of the restrictions imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal. The deal limited Iranian nuclear capacities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei led prayers and at one point was seen weeping.
Soleimani's remains were then taken to Qom, one of the centres of Shia Islam, where massive crowds also gathered for a ceremony, before the transfer to Kerman.
How have tensions escalated?
On Sunday Iran declared it would no longer abide by any of the restrictions imposed by the 2015 nuclear deal. The deal limited Iranian nuclear capacities in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Three European parties to the deal - Germany, France and the UK - urged Iran to stick to its terms.
Following warnings from Iran, Mr Trump said that the US would respond in the event of retaliation for Soleimani's death, "perhaps in a disproportionate manner".Following warnings from Iran, Mr Trump said that the US would respond in the event of retaliation for Soleimani's death, "perhaps in a disproportionate manner".
He repeated a threat to target Iranian cultural sites, saying the US would "strike very fast and very hard" if Tehran attacked Americans or US assets. Trump administration officials though have contradicted the US president on his controversial threat to target Iranian cultural sites.
The US has meanwhile reportedly denied Iran's foreign minister a visa to visit the UN in New York later this week. Such acts could be considered war crimes and Secretary of Defence Mark Esper said "we will follow the laws of armed conflict".
Javad Zarif had been expected to speak to the Security Council about the assassination. Denying Mr Zarif a visa would appear to breach an agreement reached in 1947 to guarantee foreign officials access to the UN's headquarters in New York.