Tehran, Iran – An Iranian prosecutor has alleged that a British security company and a German aircraft were involved in the assassination of Qassem Soleimani almost a year after the United States was assassinated by the United States in Iraq.
The allegations stem amid a clash between the two countries, with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Thursday accusing US President Donald Trump of aiming for a “war case for war.” to do.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Tehran prosecutor Ali Alqasimehr said without giving evidence that the London-based security services company was involved in the killing of Soleimani, who was with the Iraqi leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and several others.
“Representatives of this company briefed General Soleimani and his colleagues on the terrorists as soon as they entered the airport,” Alqasimehr said referring to Baghdad International Airport. , according to Mizan, the judge’s official news website.
Soleimani and his convoy were targeted shortly after leaving the airport by a U.S. drone strike ordered by President Trump.
The British company confirmed that they were in charge of “a number of security requirements” issued by the Iraqi Civil Aviation Authority at the time of the massacre, but denied the allegations.
“In response to recent, completely unfounded profiteering, G4S wants to make it clear that it was not fully involved in the attack on Qassem Soleimani and Abu-Mahdi al-Muhandis that occurred on January 3, 2020,” someone said. G4S spoke to Al Jazeera in a written statement.
The Tehran prosecutor also said that the U.S. airline in Germany “handled reports of the drone’s command for the assassination and the transmission of drones’ flight data to American forces”.
Iranian authorities had previously said the U.S. had used Ramstein Air Base in southwestern Germany in the Soleimani massacre.
The base serves as the headquarters for U.S. Air Forces in Europe, as well as NATO Allied Air Command, and has been a control center for U.S. drone operations in West Asia for the past few years. gone.
Alqasimehr said Iran continues to pursue those ordered and carried out the strike on Soleimani through legal means, including through Interpol. The perpetrators of the crime include 45 Americans, he said without naming them.
The prosecutor also said that Iran has granted legal representation rights to Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait to investigate the assassination.
‘Fabricate pretext for war’
Conflict has been steadily escalating in the Middle East days ahead of the January 3 anniversary of the assassination of Iran’s leader.
A series of Katyusha rockets landed in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone in an attack aimed at the U.S. embassy on Dec. 20 that caused minor damage to the cement.
Iraqi militants blamed a “banned group,” but the U.S. quickly identified Iran’s branch, accusing it of escalating tensions.
Trump tweeted a photo of several rockets, saying they were Iranian rockets without an explosion.
Iran has denied responsibility, saying the Trump administration is trying to start a war in the weeks before it has to resign.
On Thursday, Foreign Minister Zarif said on Twitter that “Iraqi intelligence is planning to make war a case for war”.
“Ioran will not seek war but will openly and directly defend its people, security and vital interests,” he tweeted.
A day earlier, the U.S. flew two B-52 strategic bombers over the Gulf for the second time this month in a demonstration of a force they said was meant to stop Iran. from attacking American targets or allies in the area.
Iran’s army air chief Aziz Nasirzadeh had warned on Wednesday of a “decisive response” by armed forces if the US continues “daring”.
In addition, a meeting was held with members of parliament behind closed doors to replace Soleimani as leader of the Quds Corps Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Esmail Ghaani.
Speaking at a televised cabinet meeting, President Hassan Rouhani also said, “You parted our general’s hand, we will remove your leg from the area and continue to stand until that day.”
Calling a trumpet
Iran’s judicial chief reiterated Iran’s stance that the person who directly ordered the strike on Soleimani, Trump’s main target of prosecution.
“Trump is the first criminal of the case about the murder of Soleimani martyr, who himself confessed to this crime in front of the entire world population, so he cannot be free from punishment,” Ebrahim Raisi told reporters.
“Fortunately, Trump’s leadership has come to an end. But even if his term had not expired, it would not be appropriate to say that a person should not be held accountable for the law because of his administrative role, ”he said. sitting presidents.
In a separate press conference Wednesday, a protest against the powerful constitutional defense agency Guardian Guardian also said that Iran would follow Trump legally after leaving the White House on January 20th.
“Legally following the U.S. regime’s crime, especially Donald Trump’s, for issuing the order to assassinate Soleimani’s assassin in international courts has special requirements and protections for heads of state from legal action prevents this, “he said.
But he added that “some international experts believe this could be possible after Trump’s presidency.”
In late June, Alqasimehr issued an arrest warrant for Trump and dozens of others on “murder and terrorism charges” but Interpol said its constitution prohibited him from undertaking “intervention”. or any acts of a political, military, religious or ethnic character ”.
In July, the UN special rapporteur on the illegal, summary or irregular enforcement of Agnes Callamard said Soleimani’s murder represented a violation of international law, a statement that the U.S. tastes like “allowing terrorists”.