35 killed, several injured in stampede during Soleimani’s funeral: media

• Thousands of mourners had gathered to attend the burial ceremony of Soleimani, who was killed in a drone attack in Iraq.
• A service was held in a public square before his coffin was transported on a vehicle through the streets of Kerman.
• The major-general was widely seen as Iran’s second most powerful figure behind the country's 80-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

(Karachi) At least 35 people died while 48 were injured in a stampede during Iranian commander Qassim Soleimani’s funeral in Kerman Town, local media reported on Tuesday.

Thousands of mourners had gathered to attend the burial ceremony of Soleimani, who was killed in a drone attack in Iraq along with other military officials by the United States, a few days ago.

The body of the senior Iranian military commander killed last week arrived in his home town of Kerman in southern Iran on Tuesday for burial.

Thousands of people thronged the streets of the town, many of them dressed in black, to mourn Qassem Soleimani.

A service was held in a public square before his coffin was transported on a vehicle through the streets of Kerman.

Meanwhile, the state media reported that Soleimani's burial has been postponed after the incident. The exact date of the burial will be announced later, the state media reported.

The major-general was widely seen as Iran’s second most powerful figure behind the country's 80-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Tensions between Iran and the US rose to an alarming level after the killing of Soleimani.

US President Donald Trump also warned Iran that if it tried to hit an American base or citizen then US will hit it harder than before.

The US president said, “The United States just spent two trillion dollars on Military equipment. We are the biggest and by far the best in the world.”

He added, “If Iran attacks an American Base, or any American, we will be sending some of that brand new beautiful equipment their way…and without hesitation!”

Trump said that Iran attacked them and they responded in retaliation. “If they attack again, which I would strongly advise them not to do, we will hit them harder than they have ever been hit before!”

He threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites “very hard” if Iran attacks Americans or US assets.