Why Iran Is in Mourning

<p>The killing of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, Iran’s most formidable military and intelligence leader, displayed the fault lines in a fractious region. From Iraq to Israel, many victims of the commander’s shadow warfare celebrated his death; but in Tehran, thousands filled the streets to grieve. Today, we explore who General Suleimani was, and what he meant to Iranians. </p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/search?query=farnaz+fassihi?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank">Farnaz Fassihi</a>, a reporter covering Iran for The New York Times. For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. </p><p>Background reading:</p><ul><li>As we break down how religious differences have fueled conflict in Iraq and Iran, here’s a refresher on the distinction between <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/04/world/middleeast/q-and-a-how-do-sunni-and-shia-islam-differ.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank">Sunni and Shia Islam</a>. </li><li>At General Suleimani’s funeral, a senior military leader<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/07/world/middleeast/trump-iran-qassem-soleimani.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> vowed to set America “ablaze.”</a> But it remains uncertain<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/04/world/middleeast/qassim-suleimani-deter-iran.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> how, or even whether, Iran will strike back</a>.</li><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/us/politics/trump-esper-iran-cultural-sites.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank">President Trump and his defense secretary have said different things</a> about how the United States might respond to any Iranian retaliation. One of our Interpreter columnists<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/world/middleeast/trump-iran-soleimani-strategy.html?smid=pc-thedaily" target="_blank"> is struggling to see a deeper strategy</a>.</li><li>Dozens of American citizens of Iranian descent<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/06/us/border-iranians-washingto