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Shadow Commander: Iran’s Military Mastermind

The extraordinary story of General Qassem Suleimani with first-hand accounts of his secret deals and shifting alliances across Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.

For decades one Iranian commander has dominated the brutal struggle for power and influence across the Middle East. This film tells the extraordinary story of General Qassem Suleimani with first-hand accounts of his secret deals and shifting alliances across Syria, Iraq and Lebanon.

During the Iraq War, Suleimani smuggled thousands of sophisticated bombs into the country, arming the Shia militias who killed hundreds of British and American troops. But just a few years later, the western coalition found themselves on the same side as Suleimani as they both fought to defeat the Islamic State.

'We saw Suleimani as a very capable charismatic, skilled, professionally competent, diabolically evil human being', says General David Petraeus, who was head of US forces in Iraq. With Suleimani now coming out of shadows and taking centre stage in Iran’s strategic ambitions, this film asks whether he is shaping up for a new conflict with the west in the region. 'We can see him as the Darth Vader of contemporary middle eastern politics', says US diplomat Ryan Crocker.

1 hour

Last on

Mon 5 Feb 2024 22:00
BBC Four

Clips

See all clips from Shadow Commander: Iran’s Military Mastermind (2)

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:02

    Portishead

    Cowboys

  • 00:04

    Massive Attack

    Teardrop

  • 00:06

    Tom Odell

    Can't Pretend

  • 00:08

    Nils Frahm

    Human Range

  • 00:10

    Mogwai

    Every Country's Sun

  • 00:12

    Felix Laband

    Crooked Breath

  • 00:14

    Kasabian

    Shoot The Runner

  • 00:16

    Felix Laband

    Radio Right Now

  • 00:17

    Burial

    Southern Comfort

  • 00:19

    Nils Frahm

    Momentum

  • 00:20

    Burial

    Night Bus

  • 00:21

    Felix Laband

    Black Shoes

  • 00:29

    Underworld

    Santiago Cuatro

  • 00:32

    Kiasmos

    Held (Dauwd Mix)

  • 00:34

    Nils Frahm

    Peter (Clark Remix)

  • 00:35

    Burial

    Forgive

  • 00:37

    Massive Attack

    Heat Miser

  • 00:39

    Portishead

    Over

  • 00:53

    Pink Floyd

    Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun

Credits

Executive Producer Sarah Waldron
Producer Sasha Joelle Achilli
Director Sasha Joelle Achilli
Reporter Jane Corbin
Writer Jane Corbin

Broadcasts

  • Thu 14 Mar 2019 21:00
    BBC Two
  • Sat 6 Apr 2019 01:05
    BBC Two
  • Mon 6 Jan 2020 23:15
    BBC Two England & HD only
  • Tue 7 Jan 2020 00:15
    BBC Two except England & HD
  • Mon 5 Feb 2024 22:00
    BBC Four

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