politicalviolenceataglanceThe COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with domestic unrest in America and the looming US presidential election, have eclipsed other headlines and made our memories foggy. Consequential events from less than a year ago at times feel light-years away. Yet many events—battles, protests, migrations—are ongoing, and the repercussions of others continue to reverberate.
In this series, we look back at PVG analysis on critical events we would do well to remember.
The Assassination of Qassem Soleimani
In January, an American drone strike killed the commander of the Iranian Quds Force, Qassem Soleimani. The consequences were immediate: mass mourning and protest in Iran and a clear drop-off of US-Iran relations. Many Americans feared the assassination would lead to war. Some even took to TikTok and Twitter, resulting in droves of memes on the draft and a potential “World War Three.”
It was an extraordinary event—with potentially profound implications for US-Iranian relations, and the entire Middle East. Here, we look back at PVG analysis on why the Trump administration killed Soleimani; whether it was justified, what might come next; and the implications for US domestic politics.
Was the Killing of Qassem Soleimani Justified? By Valerie Morkevicius and Danielle Lupton
Soleimani’s Assassination: What Will Iran Do Next? By Navin Bapat
On the Assassination of Qassem Soleimani By international relations experts from UC San Diego
Soleimani’s Murder Turns the Focus of Middle East Protest towards the US—For Now By Idean Salehyan
Shock and Thaw? The Limited Prospects for US-Iran De-escalation By Jonathan M. DiCicco
Iranian Cyberattacks: A Likely Retaliation Scenario? By Philipp Lutscher
