‘THE GAMBLER’
Donald Trump blasted as a ‘bartender’ & ‘casino manager’ by Iran general in taunt that may have sealed his fate
DONALD Trump was branded "casino manager" in a taunting speech in 2018 by General Qasem Soleimani, which could have sealed the Iranian's fate, a politics expert has said.
The US President called for the shocking assassination on Soleimani after claims that he was plotting against American diplomats in Iraq.
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However, Mark Almond, the director of the Crisis Research Institute in Oxford, said the Iran's second most powerful figure may had signed his death warrant in the summer of 2018.
At the time, Mr Trump launched a Twitter tirade, accusing Iran's leader of using "demented words of violence and death".
He promised "consequences the likes of which few throughout history have ever suffered before".
General Soleimani responded to Mr Trump's Twitter threats in a speech where he called the US president a "gambler" and challenged him by saying "we are waiting for you".
Speaking at a military base in Hamdan, about 200 miles South West of Tehran, the high-ranking official said Mr Trump's "idiotic comments" had been delivered "in the style of a bartender or a casino manager".
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He then defiantly wagged his finger and declared: "Mr Trump, the gambler! You are well aware of our power and capabilities in the region.
"Come, we are waiting for you. We are the real men on the scene, as far as you are concerned. You know that a war would mean the loss of all your capabilities.
"You may start the war, but we will be the ones to determine its end."
Mr Almond wrote for : "Eighteen months later, the man who prayed for martyrdom as the fulfilment of his life as a fighter for the Islamic Revolution was granted his wish."
Soleimani could later only be identified by the ring on his severed hand.
On Friday, Soleimani arrived at Baghdad Airport by plane and was escorted from the airport by Iraqi allies in a two-car convoy.
General Soleimani had landed after travelling from either Syria or Lebanon at around 12.30am when he was met by Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy commander of the pro-Iran Popular Mobilization forces in Iraq.
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As the cars passed through a cargo area for an access road leading out of the airport, the vehicle was struck by at least two missiles by a US MQ9 Reaper drone which was being controlled remotely.
At least two missiles were fired at the vehicles - killing the general and others on board.
The drone strike came days after protesters attacked the US embassy in Baghdad, clashing with US forces at the scene.
Amir Hatami, Iran's defence minister, has threatened the US with "crushing revenge" for Gen Soleimani's "unjust assassination".
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "severe revenge awaits the criminals" behind the attack.
Mr Trump said in a press conference on Friday that he ordered the attack "stop a war".
He tried restore calm as he spoke on camera for the first time since giving the airstrike order.
He said: "We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war.
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"Soleimani was plotting imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel, but we caught him in the act and terminated him.
"Under my leadership America's policy is unambiguous to terrorists who harm or intend to harm any American. We will find you. We will eliminate you.
"We will always protect our diplomats, service members, all Americans and our allies."
President Trump addresses the US missile strike on Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad
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WHO WAS QASEM SOLEIMANI?
Qasem Soleimani became head of the Quds Force in 1998, a position in which he kept a low profile for years while he strengthened
Iran's ties with Hezbollah in Lebanon, Syria's government and Shiite militia groups in Iraq.
He was known as 'The Shadow Commander' by his enemies, spending most of his career as a recluse and a spook.
The Quds Force, tasked with carrying out operations beyond Iran's borders, shored up support for Syria's Assad when he looked close to defeat in the civil war raging since 2011 and also helped defeat ISIS in Iraq.
Former CIA officer John Maguire said Soleimani was "the single most powerful operative in the Middle East".
Soleimani had survived several assassination attempts against him by Western, Israeli and Arab agencies over the past two decades.
The Trump administration designed Soleimani's Quds Force as a terror organisation in April last year.
He was the second most powerful person in Iran behind the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the time of his assassination.
He was hailed as a national hero by many in Iran and was awarded the Order of Zolfiqar medal, Iran's highest military honour, last year.
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