Huge crowds in Iran for commander's funeral, daughter warns U.S. of 'dark day'

By Babak Dehghanpisheh, Jeff Mason

 

Iranian people attend a funeral procession for Iranian Major-General Qassem Soleimani, head of the elite Quds Force, and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who were killed in an air strike at Baghdad airport, in Tehran, Iran January 6, 2020. Nazanin Tabatabaee/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via REUTERS

 

DUBAI/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Hundreds of thousands of Iranians thronged Tehran’s streets on Monday for the funeral of military commander Qassem Soleimani, killed by a U.S. drone strike last week, and his daughter said his death would bring a “dark day” for the United States.

 

“Crazy Trump, don’t think that everything is over with my father’s martyrdom,” Zeinab Soleimani said in an address broadcast on state television.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump had ordered Friday’s attack that killed the general, the architect of Iran’s drive to extend its influence across the region. Iran has promised to avenge his death.

 

The size of the crowds in Tehran, shown on television and which state media said numbered in the millions, mirrored the masses that gathered in 1989 for the funeral of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

 

Soleimani was a national hero to many Iranians, even those who did not consider themselves devoted supporters of Iran’s clerical rulers.

 

In response to Iran’s warnings of retaliation, Trump has threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites, including cultural targets, if Tehran attacks Americans or U.S. assets, deepening a crisis that has heightened fears of a new Middle East conflagration.

 

The coffins of Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was also killed in the strike, were passed across the heads of mourners chanting “Death to America”.

 

Aerial footage showed crowds packed thoroughfares and sidestreets in central Tehran, a welcome show of national unity for the government after deadly protests in November.

 

INFLUENCE

 

One of Iran’s main regional goals - driving U.S. 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,” Iraqi caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi said.

 

Iraq’s rival Shi’ite leaders, including ones opposed to Iranian influence, have united since Friday’s attack in calling for the expulsion of U.S. troops. About 5,000 U.S. military personnel are in Iraq, mostly acting as advisers.

 

Esmail Qaani, the new head of the Quds Force, the Revolutionary Guards’ unit in charge of foreign operations, said Iran would continue Soleimani’s path.

 

Soleimani built up Iran’s network of proxy regional forces, creating a crescent of influence stretching from Lebanon through Syria and Iraq to Iran. Allies also include Palestinian and Yemeni groups.

 

Prayers at Soleimani’s funeral in Tehran, which will later move to his southern home city of Kerman, were led by Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who wept as he spoke. Soleimani was widely seen as the second most powerful figure in Iran behind Khamenei.

 

Ismail Haniyeh, leader of Palestinian militant group Hamas, made his first trip to Iran since taking up his role in 2017 in order to attend.

 

“Resistance against the Zionist project on the land of Palestine will not stop, and resistance against the American dominance will not be broken and will not be weakened,” Haniyeh said, referring to Israel.

 

NUCLEAR TENSIONS

 

Adding to tensions, Iran said it was taking another step back from commitments under a 2015 nuclear deal with six powers, which the United States withdrew from in 2018.

 

Germany said Iran’s move to abandon limitations on enriching uranium could end the pact, which European governments have been trying to stop from collapsing.

 

Since quitting it, the United States has imposed new 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. Iran’s economy has been in freefall as the currency has plunged in value.

 

Talking to reporters on Sunday, Trump stood by his remarks to include cultural sites on his list of potential targets, despite drawing criticism from U.S. 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.

 

Democratic critics of the Republican president have said Trump was reckless in authorising the strike. Some said his comments about targeting cultural sites amounted to threats to commit war crimes. Many asked why Soleimani, long seen as a threat by U.S. authorities, had to be killed now.

 

Republicans in the U.S. Congress have generally backed Trump’s move.

 

Trump also threatened sanctions against Iraq and said that if U.S. troops were required to leave the country, Baghdad would have to pay Washington for the cost of a “very extraordinarily expensive” air base there.

 

It was not clear if Washington had advised any of its allies of its plans prior to the attack. Britain, which also has troops in Iraq, said it understood why the United States had killed Soleimani but urged a de-escalation of tensions to avoid war in the Middle East.

 

Oil prices jump 2% on Monday, rising above $70 a barrel, on concerns about an escalation.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-01-06

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Photo pretty much shows why Iran needs to be kept on a very short leash. Martyrs and fundamentalists, religion at it's worst.

<deleted>storm coming.

An over the top post has been removed

A troll post has been removed. 

2 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

“Crazy Trump, don’t think that everything is over with my father’s martyrdom,” Zeinab Soleimani said in an address broadcast on state television.

 

What a lovely lass.....just like her papa.

Guess the ministry of disinformation sent a her the talking points in advance.

If there's one thing this glorious extermination has accomplished, its completely exposed

the lame liberal media as a malignant cancer. Imagine talking up a butcher

whose men routinely drill holes in knee caps during interrogations as some sort of messiah.

Deplorable....I saw the gory end result of what became to him and the only word that came to

mind was...justice.

Iran are behind many attacks on the US and US allies in that region, and the dead General was not visiting Iraq to visit his aged Aunt. I'm no fan of Trump or his motives but sometimes, like a stopped clock, he gets it right. Iran now have to calculate how far they can go with their activities ... or the cleric might find himself joining his dear friend. Whatever the rhetoric, they prefer power and life to death.

I suppose it is no surprise that the BBC paraded a conga line of fawning reporters calling Suleimani a "charismatic hero" with "cult status" and lauding his "brave exploits".

 

They could hardly have been more complimentary if they had been talking about Martin Luther King.

 

Their scorn was reserved for US "miscalculation" and "rogue adventurism" and even introduced viewers to the "outrage" expressed by .... Hezbollah.

Call me crazy, but IMHO, Trump's "knee jerk" reaction will likely cost thousands of innocent lives. I'll bet he figured that wartime presidents are more likely to stay in office.

 

Imagine the horrendous price that may be extracted for such a stupid tactic/scheme.

If Trump can authorize the assassination of a senior government figure in Iran, I can't see why the Iranians would not be going after senior US officials. It's called negative reciprocity.

Somewhat ironic a President who has repeatedly expressed his desire for America to withdraw US personnel worldwide is now putting them back in harm's way.

Edited January 6, 20206 yr by Lacessit

3 minutes ago, klikster said:

Call me crazy, but IMHO, Trump's "knee jerk" reaction will likely cost thousands of innocent lives. I'll bet he figured that wartime presidents are more likely to stay in office.

 

Imagine the horrendous price that may be extracted for such a stupid tactic/scheme.

Whereas, if Suleimani had been allowed to carry on, everyone in that region would have been safe.

 

After all, it's not as if he had a track record of organizing and instigating industrial-scale killing.  ????

6 minutes ago, RickBradford said:

Whereas, if Suleimani had been allowed to carry on, everyone in that region would have been safe.

I'm referring to those outside "that region".

 

Recall 911?

Definitely much much bigger than Trump’s inauguration crowd. Enough reason for Trump to get into a jealousy fit to launch the air strikes. This man is not a normal thinking person. 

 

7 minutes ago, klikster said:

I'm referring to those outside "that region".

 

Recall 911?

Why do you consider deaths outside "that region" to be different and more worthy of attention than those in "that region"?

This  event is a  very unfortunate threat capable of throwing the world into a deep collapse all for the sake of a POTUS who has no capacity to consider the outcome of his egotistical desires encouraged  by advisors with equivalent motivation.

But I suspect  Iran  will not react according to common expectations.

3 minutes ago, RickBradford said:

Why do you consider deaths outside "that region" to be different and more worthy of attention than those in "that region"?

If you want to get into a pissing contest try elsewhere.

5 minutes ago, RickBradford said:

Why do you consider deaths outside "that region" to be different and more worthy of attention than those in "that region"?

Consider the possibility  that Iran  may adopt in  a wider  field the  same philosophy the US  has declared.

In basic  terms  that  being " if we  go to war it will not be in or on our  own territory".

59 minutes ago, JHolmesJr said:

 

What a lovely lass.....just like her papa.

Guess the ministry of disinformation sent a her the talking points in advance.

If there's one thing this glorious extermination has accomplished, its completely exposed

the lame liberal media as a malignant cancer. Imagine talking up a butcher

whose men routinely drill holes in knee caps during interrogations as some sort of messiah.

Deplorable....I saw the gory end result of what became to him and the only word that came to

mind was...justice.

I wonder how you would react if someone assassinated your father.

46 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Somewhat ironic a President who has repeatedly expressed his desire for America to withdraw US personnel worldwide is now putting them back in harm's way.

Just doing what he's told 

 

2 hours ago, DrTuner said:

Photo pretty much shows why Iran needs to be kept on a very short leash. Martyrs and fundamentalists, religion at it's worst.

Looks like one of the Pope's "meetings" - "religion at its worst" also! 

2 hours ago, DrTuner said:

Photo pretty much shows why Iran needs to be kept on a very short leash. Martyrs and fundamentalists, religion at it's worst.

IMHO it is the USA that needs to be on a very short leash.

 

A war mongering POTUS that needs to be exorcised ASAP.

5 minutes ago, billd766 said:

IMHO it is the USA that needs to be on a very short leash.

 

A war mongering POTUS that needs to be exorcised ASAP.

Love it.

 

Exorcise Trump

 

Canonise the biggest murderer of men women and children in recent times.

when iran kills whoever they want its fine but when the shoe is on the other foot they spit the dummy, they really need to be shown just how backward thinking they are  and that they cant run terror groups to kill others. After saying they had nothing to do with recent attacks this animal was caught with those responsible, showed exactly how deep iran is in all the terrorist attacks happening, great to see someone had the balls to eliminate them

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

If Trump can authorize the assassination of a senior government figure in Iran, I can't see why the Iranians would not be going after senior US officials. It's called negative reciprocity.

Somewhat ironic a President who has repeatedly expressed his desire for America to withdraw US personnel worldwide is now putting them back in harm's way.

childish minds always face challenges deciding . . . .

 

Imo looks to me that Donald is doing a great job uniting our enemies getting us run out of the Middle East.all in a reaction of trashing the embassy.a direct result of Donald pulling out of the nuclear agreement and vowing to strangle the Iranians now he is threatening the Iraqis with the same are we tired of winning yet?

21 minutes ago, CGW said:

Looks like one of the Pope's "meetings" - "religion at its worst" also! 

Yup, another nutter. Destroying the planet by promoting over population. 

21 minutes ago, melvinmelvin said:

childish minds always face challenges deciding . . . .

 

Is Iran not entitled to self defence also?

1 hour ago, klikster said:

Call me crazy, but IMHO, Trump's "knee jerk" reaction will likely cost thousands of innocent lives. I'll bet he figured that wartime presidents are more likely to stay in office.

 

Imagine the horrendous price that may be extracted for such a stupid tactic/scheme.

You are crazy.

 

Trump's "knee jerk" reaction came only after 13 attacks on US forces in Iraq in the last 2 months, eventually causing casualties and one dead contractor. The military recognized the nature of attacks had changed and were now meant to kill rather than harass. [ref 2] Trump asked the military to draw up a list of options to deter Iran. One of the options was Soleimani but that was rated as risky and Trump chose a lesser option. [ref 1]

Before that happened, Iran backed forces (Soleimani?) then attacked the US Embassy and Trumps decision was to switch the the riskier option of getting Soleimani, [ref 1] probably because he was the master planner. Also note Israel was consulted in advance. [ref 3]

 

So your post is more knee jerk than Trump. The shame. You have been betrayed by MSM.

 

Refs. See the NYTs lady reporter who specializes on ISIS (decision process) https://www.nytimes.com/by/rukmini-callimach (look at her twitter, lots of info look for her 2 sources)  and prior attacks here https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/01/05/iraqi-troops-killed-in-attack-by-isis-as-rockets-fall-in-green-zone-iraqis-say/

 

Israel was consulted in advance.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/tv-israel-likely-warned-of-us-plans-to-kill-soleimani/

 

17 minutes ago, rabas said:

Refs. See the NYTs lady reporter who specializes on ISIS (decision process) https://www.nytimes.com/by/rukmini-callimachi (look at her twitter, lots of info look for her 2 sources) ....

 

 

a slightly higher class of anti trumper....but still afflicted by all the usual biases.

9 hours ago, rabas said:

You are crazy.

 

Trump's "knee jerk" reaction came only after 13 attacks on US forces in Iraq in the last 2 months, eventually causing casualties and one dead contractor. The military recognized the nature of attacks had changed and were now meant to kill rather than harass. [ref 2] Trump asked the military to draw up a list of options to deter Iran. One of the options was Soleimani but that was rated as risky and Trump chose a lesser option. [ref 1]

Before that happened, Iran backed forces (Soleimani?) then attacked the US Embassy and Trumps decision was to switch the the riskier option of getting Soleimani, [ref 1] probably because he was the master planner. Also note Israel was consulted in advance. [ref 3]

 

So your post is more knee jerk than Trump. The shame. You have been betrayed by MSM.

 

Refs. See the NYTs lady reporter who specializes on ISIS (decision process) https://www.nytimes.com/by/rukmini-callimach (look at her twitter, lots of info look for her 2 sources)  and prior attacks here https://www.militarytimes.com/news/your-military/2020/01/05/iraqi-troops-killed-in-attack-by-isis-as-rockets-fall-in-green-zone-iraqis-say/

 

Israel was consulted in advance.

https://www.timesofisrael.com/tv-israel-likely-warned-of-us-plans-to-kill-soleimani/

 

And you believe what the MSM writes, LOL.

10 hours ago, seajae said:

when iran kills whoever they want its fine but when the shoe is on the other foot they spit the dummy, they really need to be shown just how backward thinking they are  and that they cant run terror groups to kill others. After saying they had nothing to do with recent attacks this animal was caught with those responsible, showed exactly how deep iran is in all the terrorist attacks happening, great to see someone had the balls to eliminate them

You think killing him will make the world more safe? You think iran will stop now?

 

if so, why then has US asked everyone to leave iran, iraq, pakistan.

 

at least isis are happy he is dead.