Iran issues arrest warrant and asks Interpol for help in detaining US President Donald Trump, others

Iran has put out an arrest warrent and solicited Interpol for assistance in incarcerating US President Donald Trump and many others it believes carried out the drone attack that killed a top Iranian general in Baghdad, a procecutor reportedly stated on Monday.

Meanwhile Donal Trump faces no possibility of arrest, the charges underscore the intensified tensions between Iran and the US since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr stated that Donald Trump and about 30 others who Iran blames for involvement in the 3rd January attack that killed General Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad face “murder and terrorism charges,” ISNA news agency reported.

Alqasimehr did not identify anyone else sought other than Donald Trump, but stressed that Iran would continue to push towards his prosecution even after his presidency ends.

Interpol, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Alqasimehr was also quoted stating that Iran requested a “red notice” be put out for Donald Trump and the others, which represents the highest level arrest request put out by Interpol. Local authorities wind up making the arrests on behalf of the country that request it. The notices doesn’t allow countries to arrest or extradite suspects, but can put government leaders on the spot and limit suspects’ travel.

After getting a request, Interpol meets by committee and talks about whether or not to share the information with its member states. It is no necessary for Interpol to making any of the notices public, though some do get published on its website.

It is improbable that interpol would allow Iran’s request as its guidelines for notices bans it from “undertaking any intervention or activities of a political” nature.

The U.S. killed Soleimani, who oversaw the Revolutionary Guard’s expeditionary Quds Force, and others in the January strike near Baghdad International Airport.

Also Read: ASEAN-5 responses mitigate COVID-19 economic damage, unlikely to offset rising credit risk