Britain and France urge deescalation after US strike on Iranian general; Moscow blasts ‘adventurist step,’ praises Quds Force chief’s ‘devotion’ to Iran’s national interests
World powers on Friday criticized the US killing of a top Iranian military commander and called for restraint and calm in its wake.
The US strike in Baghdad that killed Qassem Soleimani, commander of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, had made the world “more dangerous,” France’s Europe minister said, calling for efforts to deescalate the deepening conflict in the Middle East.
“We have woken up to a more dangerous world,” Amelie de Montchalin told RTL radio, saying President Emmanuel Macron will consult soon with “players in the region.
“In such operations, when we can see an escalation is underway, what we want above all is stability and deescalation,” Montchalin says. “Our role is not to take sides, but to talk with everyone.”
Moscow warned that the killing of Soleimani would boost tensions across the Middle East, calling it “an adventurist step.” The foreign ministry said Soleimani “served the cause of protecting Iran’s national interests with devotion. We express our sincere condolences to the Iranian people.”
China appealed for restraint from all sides, “especially the United States,” after the attack.
“China has always opposed the use of force in international relations,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily press briefing. “We urge the relevant sides, especially the United States, to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalating tensions.”
He said Iraq’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity must be respected.
China and Russia, both permanent members of the UN Security Council, are key partners of Iran.
Foreign minister Dominic Raab said London had “always recognized the aggressive threat” posed by Soleimani and his Quds Force, adding: “Following his death, we urge all parties to deescalate. Further conflict is [in] none of our interests.”
Germany too urged restraint and deescalation. “We are at a dangerous point of escalation. It is now important through prudence and restraint to contribute to de-escalation,” said Chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer.
Meanwhile the NATO military alliance said it was monitoring the situation in Iraq closely with an eye to the safety of its training mission there.
“The safety of our personnel in Iraq is paramount. We continue to take all precautions necessary.”
Iraq’s deputy parliament speaker said an emergency parliament session was set for Saturday to discuss the US airstrike in Baghdad.
Hassan al-Kaabi said it is time to put an end to “US recklessness and arrogance,” adding that Saturday’s session will be dedicated to taking “decisive decisions that put an end to US presence inside Iraq.”
Iraq’s caretaker prime minister Adel Abdel Mahdi slammed the US strike as an “aggression” that would “spark a devastating war.
Iran warned of “severe revenge” and said the US bore responsibility for the consequences after killing Soleimani.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps confirmed the commander of its Quds Force foreign operations arm had been killed.
“The Revolutionary Guards announces that the glorious commander of Islam, haj Qassem Soleimani, following a life of servitude, was martyred in an attack by America on Baghdad airport this morning,” said a Guards statement read out on state television.
The channel said the attack was carried out by US helicopters.
“Two vehicles were attacked with missiles by US forces” and all 10 passengers, including Soleimani, were “martyred,” Iran’s ambassador to Iraq, Iraj Masjedi, told state television.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned of “severe revenge” for “the criminals who bloodied their foul hands with his blood”, and vowed that “God willing, his work and his path will not be stopped.”
He also declared three days of mourning.
The Pentagon said it carried out the strike at the direction of US President Donald Trump.
“General Soleimani was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region. General Soleimani and his Quds Force were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American and coalition service members and the wounding of thousands more,” the Department of Defense added.
The attack came amid tensions with the United States after a New Year’s Eve attack by Iran-backed militias on the US embassy in Baghdad. The two-day embassy attack which ended Wednesday prompted Trump to order about 750 US soldiers deployed to the Middle East.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/france-russia-and-china-condemn-slaying-of-soleimani-as-a-destabilizing-act/
ATTENTION READERS
We See The World From All Sides and Want YOU To Be Fully InformedIn fact, intentional disinformation is a disgraceful scourge in media today. So to assuage any possible errant incorrect information posted herein, we strongly encourage you to seek corroboration from other non-VT sources before forming an educated opinion.
About VT - Policies & Disclosures - Comment Policy
If Europe had grown a pair and stood up to the US over the JCPOA, this likely would never have happened. That they jump up now and ask for restraint is laughable at best. The EU can thank themselves for this, regardless their faked concern now, which is only for local consumption. Trumpet would not have done this without the Zionist seal of approval and all these govs are part of that. Whatever comes now is on their heads as well.
Maybe it time for Russia and China to sign a treaty with Iran in which both countries pledge to come to Iran’s aid if Iran is attacked by the US. Both nations should be pouring troops into the ME at the request of Iran and Iraq. It’s the only way to stop this nonsense.
If Trump set himself the task of setting up the whole world against the United States, then he does it well.
The last steps of the USA in the world are sheer arrogance. The faster Americans (military) get kicked in the ass from the Middle East, the better.
It is better then to make world peacekeeping forces, which would include the military from the leading 5-10 countries in order to extinguish hotbeds of tension in local conflicts around the world.
This will be the catalyst that turns Europe east, if the world survives. Trump has just earned the scorn of the entire civilized world.
The Hasbara trolls are out in full force on the the news outlets with comment sections praising this action. News outlets like Daily Mail are framing General Soleimani as the “terrorist general” This is disgusting. Trump is a loss mafia don who ordered a hit. US military disgusts me too. Whatever the number of body bags they’re shipped home in, they have it coming.
Comments are closed.