Expert comment on death of Iranian general Qasim Soleimani
03 January 2020
Following the death of Iranian general Qasim Soleimani in an air strike in Baghdad, Dr Vladimir Rauta, a Lecturer in Politics and International Relations at the University of Reading provides expert commentary.
Dr Rauta said:
“Following the death of Iranian general Qasim Soleimani, the White House strategy in this growing Middle Eastern conflict is responsive, reactive, and impulsive. Leadership decapitation works in the context of a multi-pronged strategy, which Trump’s administration seems to be sorely lacking.
“The concerning issue is that Trump may have unknowingly ignited a new Middle Eastern war, or at the very least set up patient, repeated, and individual acts of retribution by Iran leading to payback responses. Regardless, this is the first serious crisis for the President whose management will no doubt be affected by the impeachment proceedings and 2020 re-election.”