Major escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran. Will this effect international bodybuilding in the region?
On January 3, 2020, President Donald J. Trump ordered a drone strike on Iran’s most powerful General Qassem Suleimanni in Baghdad, Iraq. The death of Suleimanni could have some pretty devastating ripple effects down the line. It was bold action taken by the president that was ordered to apparently detour further actions against US citizens and interests around the world. The action, however, could have the opposite effect and instead ramp up tensions between the two nations.
The Guardian offered more details on this turn of events.
“Donald Trump ordered an airstrike that killed Iran’s most powerful general in the early hours of Friday, in a dramatic escalation of an already bloody struggle between Washington and Tehran for influence across the region.
Qassem Suleimani was hit by the drone strike while local allies from the Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF) drove him from Baghdad airport. The de facto leader of the PMF, Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, a close Suleimani associate, was also killed in the attack.”
“Suleimani was commander of the Quds force, the elite, external wing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, which the Trump administration designated a terrorist organisation in April last year. The Pentagon statement accused the Quds force of being responsible for the deaths of hundreds of US service members and the wounding of thousands more.
Many consider Suleimani to have been the second most powerful person in Iran, behind Khamenei, and arguably ahead of Rouhani. Through a mix of security operations and diplomatic coercion, he has been more responsible than anyone else for projecting Iran’s influence in the region. This has been led in Iraq, but also by establishing a seemingly permanent military foothold in war-torn Syria, linking Tehran to the Mediterranean and a land border with Israel.”
A pentagon official statement said this about the actions taken by president Trump:
“General Suleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region,” the statement said. “This strike was aimed at deterring future Iranian attack plans.”
So, how does this affect competitive bodybuilding? Well, as an Iranian national, popular competitor Hadi Choopan along with his countrymen could be greatly effected by these turn of events.
The Generation Iron 3 star has already faced troubles with being able to compete on US soil after the implementation of president Donald Trump’s travel ban. The rising tensions between the two nations could see even greater consequences than ever before.
This action could potentially lead to war according to a number of political figures, chief among them Democratic Presidential Candidate hopeful Bernie Sanders. Sanders had this to say about the situation:
Trump’s dangerous escalation brings us closer to another disastrous war in the Middle East that could cost countless lives and trillions more dollars.
Trump promised to end endless wars, but this action puts us on the path to another one.
— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 3, 2020
Generation Iron will continue to track this story and how it could effect competitors like Hadi Choopan and the world at large.
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Managing Editor at Generation Iron, Jonathan Salmon is a writer, martial arts instructor, and geek culture enthusiast. Check out his Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Sound Cloud for in-depth MMA analysis.
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