Soleimani’s daughter warns US of “dark day” to come as Iranians gather for funeral

The daughter of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani has warned the US and Israel of a “dark day” ahead.

“Crazy Trump, don’t think that everything is over with my father’s martyrdom. The families of US soldiers in the Middle East will spend their days waiting for the death of their children,” said Zenaib Soleimani.

Tens of thousands of mourners have flooded Iran’s cities to pay their final respects to the general, who was killed in a US airstrike on January 3.

Soleimani was internationally regarded as the second most powerful figure in Iran behind the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.

Black-clad mourners in the streets of Tehran have called for revenge on the US, waving flags and carrying portraits of the late general. During Soleimani’s funeral, Ayatollah Khamenei wept while leading prayers.

Iran’s president vows revenge

Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, visited Soleimani’s house where he spoke with the late general’s family.

One of Soleimani’s daughters was filmed asking the president, “Mr. Rouhani, my father would avenge his friends if their blood were shed. Now who is avenging my father’s blood?”

In response, Rouhani promised her that “everyone will take revenge. We will, we will avenge his blood.”

Americans worry over what’s next

Back in the US, President Trump has threatened to strike Iranian cultural sites should Iran seek revenge over Soleimani’s death but many expressed concern over how Iran may respond, with US Senator Chuck Schumer voicing concerns over an “endless war” in the Middle East.

“We are really worried that the actions that the president took, will get us to what he calls ‘another endless war in the Middle East’. He promised we wouldn’t have that and I think we are closer to that now because of his actions,” Schumer said.

Meanwhile, US Senator and Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren questioned the timing of Trump’s order to assassinate Soleimani, calling it a step that “puts everyone at risk."

Why did Trump order the killing of Soleimani so close to the Senate impeachment trial?

“I think the question that we ought to focus on is ‘why now?’ Why not a month ago, why not a month from now. The answer from the administration seems to be they can’t keep their stories straight,” Warren said.
Warren added that the president is currently facing an impeachment trial and that the answers given by the administration for the timing of the strike imply that it was part of a “Trump agenda”, not an American one.

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