Iran issues arrest warrant for Donald Trump over killing of top general

Iran has issued an arrest warrant for Donald Trump over the killing of top general Qassem Soleimani.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said Iran has asked for Interpol’s help to detain the US President and 35 others who face ‘murder and terrorism charges’, according to the ISNA news agency.

Soleimani was killed on January 3 in a US drone strike in Iraq.

Washington blamed Soleimani, the leader of the Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, for masterminding attacks by Iran-aligned militias on US forces in the region.

Alqasimehr said Iran has requested a ‘red notice’ for Trump, which represents the highest level arrest request issued by Interpol.

The prosecutor did not identify anyone other than Trump, but stressed Iran would continue to pursue his prosecution even after his presidency ends.

Interpol, based in Lyon, France, has not immediately responded to a request for comment.

The charges underscore the heightened tensions between Iran and the US since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

Local authorities end up making the arrests on behalf of the country that request 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. 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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