Iran issues arrest warrants for 36 people, including US President Trump; seeks Interpol's aid

July 2, 2020

On Monday, state-owned Iranian news agency reported Iran issued arrest warrants on 36 people believed to have been involved in the assassination of the general Qasem Soleimani in January and demanded from Interpol to publish a  for US president Donald Trump.

According to semi-official news agency, the prosecutor general of Tehran, Ali Alghasi Mehr, said the 36 must face "murder and terrorism charges", adding Iran will pursue the prosecution of Trump even after he ends serving as president of the US. Among the 36 arrest warrants, Trump's was the only identity disclosed.

Red notices are declared to ask local authorities across the globe to find and arrest a person wanted by a judicial jurisdiction or an international tribunal with a view to his/her extradition on behalf of the country requesting it. A red notice doesn't force countries to conduct the arrest but may limit the suspect's freedom to travel.

Interpol's constitution prohibits "any intervention or activities of a political, military, religious or racial character," an Interpol spokesperson stated. The spokesperson added regarding Iran's request, they "would not consider requests of this nature"; Interpol didn't disclose at the time whether it received any arrest warrants from Iran.

On a press conference held in Saudi Arabia, US Special Representative for Iran said, "This is a political nature. This has nothing to do with national security, international peace or promoting stability". He added, "It is a propaganda stunt that no-one takes seriously."