Assassinated Iranian general’s daughter rebukes Trump as he leaves White House

Qasem Soleimani, the Iranian general killed in a US airstrike ordered by President Donald Trump at Baghdad International Airport last year, was hailed as a hero in Iran: brave, charismatic and beloved by his troops.

Then-president Trump had authorised the strike because Soleimani was “plotting imminent and sinister attacks” on Americans.

As Trump left the White House for the final time as president yesterday, the general’s youngest daughter rebuked him in a savage tweet, saying he was ending his term in disgrace. She condemned him for ordering her father’s assassination.

“Mr. Trump, you murdered my father, the General who led the victorious war against ISIS/Al-Qaeda, with the perverse hope that you will be seen as some sort of hero. But instead you are defeated, isolated & broken – viewed not as a hero, but one who lives in fear of foes. The irony.”

Her tweet, which was accompanied by an image showing a poster of Trump’s face and the words “American terrorist”, came just hours after the swearing-in of President Joe Biden, who won the highest office on the heels of a tumultuous Trump presidency that saw a dramatic spike in hostilities with the Islamic Republic.

US-Iranian tensions peaked last January after Soleimani’s assassination which came amid a US sanctions campaign aimed at crippling Tehran’s vital oil exports.

Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, who shared Zeinab’s post on Twitter, gave a similarly harsh verdict following Trump’s official departure from the White House.

“Trump, Pompeo & Co. are relegated to the dustbin of history in disgrace. But the memories of Gen Soleimani & the 1000s murdered, maimed & starved of food & meds by Trump’s state – & economic – terrorism & crimes against humanity, will shine on. Perhaps new folks in DC have learned.”

Zeinab said in a recent English-language interview, broadcast on RT: “Al Queda and ISIS are terrorist groups that America made and we have many proofs of that. My father was the only person standing against these terrorist groups.”

She also made it clear that she is unimpressed with President Joe Biden.

“There is no difference between Biden and Trump. They are the same guy and they are following the same policy. Biden agreed with Obama when they made ISIS. What’s the difference between Trump and Biden? What will change?”