The world is in a state of tension following escalating conflicts between the United States and Iran. These conflicts revolve around the killing of Iran’s most powerful military commander, General Qasem Soleimani. He was killed via an airstrike which was given the blessing by United States President Donald Trump. The killing took place on the 3rd January 2020.
The execution of the General meant that Iran had lost its second most powerful person, just behind the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
One would obviously expect some form of retaliation. In this respect, Iran responded by attacking two United States bases located in Iraq.
The General executed was a key figure in the military. He was considered as a national hero and following his death, an announcement of three days of national mourning was made.
The United States hold the General and his troops responsible for the death of several American soldiers and labelled him as a terrorist. To add insult to injury, President Donald Trump tweeted the flag of his country immediately after the news of his death was announced.
Both the United States and Iran have had a strained relationship over the past years, however, things only got worse following 2017, when Donald Trump became President of the United States. To make matters worse, Trump had withdrawn the United States from an important international agreement with Iran. Following this, stringent regulations were imposed on Iran, affecting its oil exports. Without these restrictions, life was already difficult for the people in Iran, let alone with them.
In the first half of 2019, four oil tankers were damaged just off the coast of the United Arab Emirates. The United States was quick to blame Iran, a claim that they could not substantiate, one which Iran denied.
At one point, Iran had shot down a United States drone due to it being in their airspace. The reaction from the United States was that this drone was directed on international waters and that the attack was not warranted. Following this course of action, President Donald Trump stated that Iran made a very big mistake. It is said that Donald Trump was adamant to lead an airstrike but withdrew after he was told that a hundred and fifty Iranians would be killed.
What is your take on these recent developments? Do you think that things will keep on escalating? Could this lead to a Third World War? Let us know in the comments section below.
