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Iran's supreme leader tweets attack threat to golfing Trump | Iran's supreme leader tweets attack threat to golfing Trump |
(32 minutes later) | |
The image from the Khamenei-linked account appears to depict Donald Trump playing golf below an aircraft | The image from the Khamenei-linked account appears to depict Donald Trump playing golf below an aircraft |
A Twitter account linked to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has posted what appears to be a call for an attack on Donald Trump in revenge for last year's killing of its top military commander, Gen Qasem Soleimani. | A Twitter account linked to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has posted what appears to be a call for an attack on Donald Trump in revenge for last year's killing of its top military commander, Gen Qasem Soleimani. |
The post features a depiction of a man resembling the former US president playing golf in the shadow of a warplane or large drone. | The post features a depiction of a man resembling the former US president playing golf in the shadow of a warplane or large drone. |
"Vengeance is inevitable," it reads. | "Vengeance is inevitable," it reads. |
The social media giant has now suspended the account - @khamenei_site. | The social media giant has now suspended the account - @khamenei_site. |
Twitter said the account had violated its rules and it directed readers to a list of prohibited acts, including threatening violence. | |
Twitter closed President Trump's hugely influential account earlier this month after he published posts that were widely considered to have encouraged violence that gripped the US Capitol. | Twitter closed President Trump's hugely influential account earlier this month after he published posts that were widely considered to have encouraged violence that gripped the US Capitol. |
Trump’s Twitter downfall | Trump’s Twitter downfall |
Twitter ban is 'right' but 'dangerous' | Twitter ban is 'right' but 'dangerous' |
The tweet from the Iranian account refers to Gen Soleimani, who was assassinated by a US drone in Baghdad a year ago. | The tweet from the Iranian account refers to Gen Soleimani, who was assassinated by a US drone in Baghdad a year ago. |
Under Soleimani's leadership, Iran had bolstered pro-Iranian militant groups, expanded its military presence in Iraq and Syria and orchestrated Syria's offensive against rebel groups in its long-running civil war. | Under Soleimani's leadership, Iran had bolstered pro-Iranian militant groups, expanded its military presence in Iraq and Syria and orchestrated Syria's offensive against rebel groups in its long-running civil war. |
Gen Soleimani was a popular figure in Iran | Gen Soleimani was a popular figure in Iran |
Mr Trump said at the time the general was "directly and indirectly responsible for the deaths of millions of people". | Mr Trump said at the time the general was "directly and indirectly responsible for the deaths of millions of people". |
Iran responded by launching a barrage of missiles at an Iraqi airbase housing US troops and warned of further attacks, with Ayatollah Khamenei saying at the time that "severe revenge awaits the criminals". | Iran responded by launching a barrage of missiles at an Iraqi airbase housing US troops and warned of further attacks, with Ayatollah Khamenei saying at the time that "severe revenge awaits the criminals". |
In the latest tweet, written in Farsi, the word "vengeance" is in red and the rest of the post says: "Soleimani's murderer and he who ordered it will have to pay". | In the latest tweet, written in Farsi, the word "vengeance" is in red and the rest of the post says: "Soleimani's murderer and he who ordered it will have to pay". |
The image resembling Mr Trump was also displayed prominently on Ayatollah Khamenei's official website. | |
Twitter took action after several calls for it to suspend the account. | Twitter took action after several calls for it to suspend the account. |
"How come this atrocious psychopath can openly call for the assassination of a former US president, and not be kicked out of Twitter?" one user wrote in English. | "How come this atrocious psychopath can openly call for the assassination of a former US president, and not be kicked out of Twitter?" one user wrote in English. |
"Trump's banned but this is perfectly ok. Is this a joke?" another user wrote. | "Trump's banned but this is perfectly ok. Is this a joke?" another user wrote. |
Twitter banned a tweet from the ayatollah's account - which is unverified but is generally considered to be associated with him - earlier this month that described coronavirus vaccines developed in the UK and the US as "untrustworthy". | Twitter banned a tweet from the ayatollah's account - which is unverified but is generally considered to be associated with him - earlier this month that described coronavirus vaccines developed in the UK and the US as "untrustworthy". |