Iran has issued an arrest warrant and requested help from International Criminal Police (Interpol) to detain US President Donald Trump and others for carrying out a drone strike that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad.
The charge heightens the already existing tension between Iran and the United States since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.
According to Tehran prosecutor, Ali Alqasimehr, Trump and 35 others face ‘murder and terrorism charges’ for the January 3 air strike at Baghdad International Airport that killed General Qasem Soleimani.
The death of the General sparked protests in Iran and around the world.
Following Soleimani’s murder, Iran retaliated with a ballistic missile strike targeting American troops in Iraq.
Alqasimehr did not identify anyone else sought other than Trump, but stressed that Iran would continue to pursue his prosecution even after his time in office as president ends.
He stated that Iran requested a ‘red notice’ be put out for Trump and the others, which represents the highest level arrest request issued by Interpol.
The ‘red notice’ indicates a request seeking the location and arrest of any individual named.
According to Aljazeera, under a red notice, local authorities make the arrests on behalf of the country that requested it. The notice cannot force countries to arrest or extradite suspects, but can put government leaders on the spot and limit suspects’ travel.
However, 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.
