Iran has issues an arrest warrant and asked Interpol for help in detaining United State President Donald Trump and dozens of others it believes carried out the US drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad.
While Mr Trump faces no danger of arrest, the charges underscore the heightened tensions between Iran and the United State since it unilaterally withdrew from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.
Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said Mr Trump and more than 30 others accused of involvement in the January 3 strike that killed General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad face “murder and terrorism charges,” the state-run IRNA news agency reported.
Mr Alqasimehr did not identify anyone else sought other than Mr Trump, but stressed that Iran would continue to pursue his prosecution even after his presidency ends.
Interpol, based in Lyon, France, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mr Alqasimehr also was quoted as saying that Iran requested a “red notice” be put out for Mr Trump and the others, which represents the highest-level arrest request issued by Interpol.
Local authorities generally make the arrests on behalf of the country that requests it.
The notices cannot force countries to arrest or extradite suspects, but can put Government leaders on the spot and limit suspects’ travel.
After receiving a request, Interpol meets by committee and discusses whether or not to share the information with its member states.
Iran Issues Arrest Warrant for President Trump, Asks For Interpol Assistance
Interpol has no requirement for making any of the notices public, though some do get published on its website.
It is unlikely Interpol would grant Iran’s request as its guideline for notices forbids it from “undertaking any intervention or activities of a political” nature.
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That was something noted by Brian Hook, the United State special representative for Iran, who dismissed the announcement during a news conference in Saudi Arabia on Monday.
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“It’s a propaganda stunt that no one takes seriously and makes the Iranians look foolish,” he said.
The United State killed General Soleimani, who oversaw the Revolutionary Guard’s expeditionary Quds Force, and others in an attack near Baghdad International Airport.
Iran Issues Arrest Warrant for US President Donald Trump, Asks For Interpol Assistance
It came after months of rising tensions between the United State and Iran.
Iran retaliated with a ballistic missile strike targeting American troops in Iraq.