World War III Looming: The American – Iran Saga

Tension has seriously gone high as there has been series of predictions and speculations of another impending World War of which America and Iran has been in the center of the picture, as the result of the killing of the Iran Major General Qasem Soleimani.

General Soleimani was killed on 3rd January 2020 around 01:00 am. by the American MQ-9 Reap drone, which was authorized by the American President, Donald Trump who claims that the airstrike was ordered to stop a war.

Furthermore, President Trump maintained that the justification to the airstrike was due to the fact that, Qasem Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and Military Personnel.

Donald Trump claims that he was caught in the act as reported by the headquarters of the US department of defense. Trump, turning to his tweeter handle on Friday, stressed that “Soleimani had killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans… And was plotting to kill many more and should have been taken out many years ago… While Iran will never be able to properly admit it, Soleimani was both hated and feared within the country.”

However, there has been series of events that led to the killing of Qasem Soleimani. On the 13th of April 2017, world news Reuters reported that the United States, on Thursday, sanctioned Sohrab Soleimani, the brother of the grand commander of Iran’s revolutionary Guards General Qasen Soleimani. 

White House spokesman, Sean Spicer, told a press briefing, “the sanctions against Human Rights abusers in Iran’s prisons comes at a time when Iran continues to unjustly detain various foreigners, including U. S citizens “.

Qasem Soleimani was also listed by U. S government as a known terrorist, which prohibits U.S Citizens from doing any form of business with him. This was made by the office of the spokesman Washington, DC October 25th 2007: “the treasury department also designated the IRGC (Iranian revolutionary Guard Corps) Quds Force IRGC – QF under E.O 13224 for aiding and providing Material support to the Taliban and Other terrorist Organizations, and Iran’s state – owned Bank Saderat as a terrorist financier.”

For financing military actions in Syria, providing support for terrorism in the region, was sanctioned by the United States department of the  treasury on 13th November 2018, an Iraqi military leader named Shibl Muhsin Ubayd Al-Zaydi and others who allegedly were acting on Qasem Soleimani’s behalf.

The United State President, Donald Trump, said that the White House may discuss releasing the surveillance intelligence on Soleimani. The Iran government in response to the death of General Qasem Soleimani, has labelled the American airstrike, as an act of terrorism and war.  And the prime minister of Iran has vowed that “hash revenge awaits the American Government and the White House and has promised to target various American assets in Iran.

Many countries have reacted to the American airstrike.  Syria of course has harshly condemned the US actions, calling it “A treacherous American criminal aggression”. Russia another world power has also condemned the strike and says that American decision will only increase tensions throughout the Middle East.

However, China which is a close ally of Iran and an opponent of the U.S presence in Iraq condemns the use of force in international relations. However, countries like Israel, Germany, Britain has given a positive view of the American airstrike on Soleimani but has urged cautions and restraints.

Receiving the revenge threats by Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the U.S president on a tweet has strongly maintained that the American government would strike 52 sites in Iran, if they should retaliate or cause any harm to any American citizen or official.  The number 52 according to the U.S presidency, represents the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago.

Nevertheless, tension goes high as America intensifies it’s security force after the recent attack on the American Embassy in Iran.  This leads to the question begging for an answer, if the Iran would respond to their threats of war and possible World War III.

Reference

  1. Wikipedia, “Qasem Soleimani,”.
  2. Strong Steinbuch, “The Events that led to US killing of Iranian Gently. Qassem Soleimani.
  3. Nytimes,”the killing of Gen.Qassm Suleimani: what we know since the U.S. Airstrike.
  4. BBC, “Warm Soleimani : US kills top Iranian general in Baghdad air Strike.
  5. Reuters, “U. S sanctions brother of Iran’s Questions Force Commander : White House.
  6. U. S Department of State Archive, “Designation of Iranian Entitles and individual for Proliferation Activities and support for Terrorism.
  7. Treasury Sanctions Keys Hizballah, IRGC-QF Network in Iraq.
  8. CBS News, “Qassem Soleimani, top Iranian Military Commander, killed in U. S airstrike in Baghdad; Iran vows revenge and thousands mourn.
  9. CNN, “Uproar and Consequences mount For Trump after Soleimani killing”.
  10. Euronews, “Worldreacts to killing of Iran’s Qassem.
  11. VOA,  “US, Iran Trade threats following Iran Generals killing.