Response for a military action is a military action: Iran envoy to UN

Fury, tears as crowds mourn Iran commander killed by US

UN, Germany concerned; Russia, France condemn

Tens of thousands of Iraqis, many chanting "Death to America", yesterday mourned a top Iranian commander and others killed in a US drone attack that sparked fears of a regional proxy war between Washington and Tehran. The killing of Iran's Major General Qasem Soleimani on Friday was the most dramatic escalation yet in spiralling tensions between Iran and the United States, which pledged to send thousands more troops to the region. Iraqi political leaders and clerics attended the mass ceremony to honour 62-year-old Soleimani and the other nine victim of the pre-dawn attack on Baghdad international airport. US President Donald Trump said he had decided to "terminate" Iran's military mastermind to prevent an "imminent" attack on US diplomats and troops. "We took action last night to stop a war," he insisted. "We did not take action to start a war." But a furious Iran has vowed revenge for the killing of Soleimani, the chief architect of its military operations across the Middle East.

"The response for a military action is a military action," Iranian ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi told CNN, calling the strike an "act of war". "By whom, by when, where? That is for the future to witness."

In the hours after the strike, the US reached out to Iran, with which it has had no direct diplomatic ties for decades.

Switzerland, whose embassy in Tehran represents US interests, confirmed Saturday its charge d'affaires had on Friday been "informed of Iran's position and in turn delivered the message of the United States".

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said Washington had used “diplomatic measures” to urge Tehran to respond “in proportion” to the strike — a message Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif slammed as “foolish”.

Zarif also spoke with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who argued that “the dangerous US military operation violates the basic norms of international relations and will aggravate regional tensions and turbulence,” according to Chinese media.

Mourners demand ‘revenge’

The strike killed a total of five Iranian Guards and five members of Iraq’s Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network, whose members have close ties to Tehran.

Among the dead was the Hashed’s deputy Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was a top adviser and personal friend to Soleimani.

Mass ceremonies started in Baghdad on Saturday for the dead, with Iraq’s caretaker premier Adel Abdel Mahdi and top pro-Iran figures in large crowds accompanying the coffins. They were first brought to a revered Shiite shrine in northern Baghdad, where thousands of mourners chanted “Death to America!”

Dressed in black, they waved white Hashed flags and massive portraits of Iranian and Iraqi leaders, furiously calling for “revenge”.

The remains were then moved to the shrine city of Karbala and would ultimately end up in Najaf, where the Iraqis will be buried.  The Guards’ remains would be flown to Iran, which has declared three days of mourning and religious rituals. As head of the Guards’ foreign operations arm, the Quds Force, Soleimani was a powerful figure domestically and oversaw Iran’s wide-ranging interventions in regional power struggles. He had long been considered a lethal foe by Washington, with Trump saying he should have been killed “many years ago”. Tehran has already named Soleimani’s deputy, Esmail Qaani, to replace him. His first order of business was made clear Friday when Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised “severe revenge” for Soleimani’s death.

UN, Germany concerned; Russia, France condemn

The USA's targeted killing of the Iranian top general could ignite conflict in the region, according to an Al Jazeera report quoting several world leaders. Addressing the volatile situation after the killing of Qasem Soleimani, those representing various countries and factions warned that the world has become a more dangerous place after the incident, and urged restraint on all sides.

The high-profile killings come amid a sharp escalation in Iran-US tensions. Here is how the world players and regional factions have responded to the incident.

United Nations

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned by the recent rise in tensions in the Middle East, his spokesperson said in a statement. "The secretary general has consistently advocated for de-escalation in the Gulf," Farhan Haq said, adding, "This is a moment in which leaders must exercise maximum restraint. The world cannot afford another war in the Gulf."

Russia

Russia's foreign ministry condemned the killing of Soleimani and said it will increase tensions throughout the Middle East. An unnamed diplomat in the ministry told Russia's state-run news agency TASS that they consider the killing "an adventurist step." The head of the foreign affairs committee in Russia's upper parliament house called the US airstrike "a mistake" that could "boomerang on its organisers." Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Konstantin Kosachev in a Facebook post on Friday, stated that the move destroyed the last hope for resolving the issues around the Iran nuclear deal. "Iran may accelerate making a nuclear weapon now, even if it didn't plan on doing it before," Kosachev said.

France

French President Emmanuel Macron and his foreign minister were reaching out to "all the actors in the region," said France's Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Amelie de Montchalin. "We are waking up in a more dangerous world. Military escalation is always dangerous. When such actions, such operations, take place, we see that escalation is underway," Amelie de Montchalin said on RTL radio. Montchalin indicated that urgent reconciliation efforts are being launched behind the scenes.

China

China appealed for restraint from all sides, "especially the United States". "We urge the relevant sides, especially the United States, to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalating tensions," foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily news briefing. On Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart that the US should not "abuse force" and should instead seek solutions through dialogue.  "The dangerous US military operation violates the basic norms of international relations and will aggravate regional tensions and turbulence," Wang told Mohammad Javad Zarif according to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry.

Germany

Chancellor Angela Merkel's spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer urged restraint and de-escalation. "We are at a dangerous point of escalation. It is now important through prudence and restraint to contribute to the de-escalation," said an Al Jazeera report quoting Demmer. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that the aim now is to prevent further escalation across the Middle East. "We are making use of our diplomatic channels to Iran and to other states in the region," he said, adding, "We have been in close contact with our British and French partners and with other European countries on how we can best work to calm the situation."

Turkey

The Turkish foreign ministry said that the killing of Soleimani will increase insecurity and instability in the region. In a written statement, the ministry said it was deeply concerned by the rising tensions between the USA and Iran, and that turning Iraq into an area of conflict will harm peace and stability in the region.

"Turkey has always been against foreign interventions, assassinations and sectarian conflicts in the region," Al Jazeera reported quoting the ministry.

Syria

The Syrian government accused Washington of trying to fuel conflict in the Middle East. Syria is "certain that this cowardly US aggression ... will only strengthen determination to follow in the path of the resistance's martyred leaders," a foreign ministry official was quoted as saying by the state news agency SANA. The official described the killings as "a serious escalation of the situation" in the region and accused the US of resorting to "the methods of criminal gangs".

NATO suspends Iraq ops

Iraqis worry the US strike could unleash a new wave of destabilisation for Iraq, which only two years ago announced it had defeated the Islamic State group. Abdel Mahdi warned Friday it would “spark a devastating war in Iraq”, while President Barham Saleh pleaded for “voices of reason” to prevail. On Saturday, the Hashed said a new strike had hit a convoy of their forces north of Baghdad, with Iraqi state media blaming the US.

But US-led coalition spokesman Myles Caggins denied involvement, telling AFP: “There was no American or coalition strike.” Amid the tensions, the Pentagon said up to 3,500 additional US troops would be dispatched to Iraq’s neighbour Kuwait, to boost some 14,000 reinforcements already deployed to the region last year.

 

Response for a military action is a military action: Iran envoy to UN

Fury, tears as crowds mourn Iran commander killed by US

UN, Germany concerned; Russia, France condemn

Tens of thousands of Iraqis, many chanting Death to America, yesterday mourned a top Iranian commander and others killed in a US drone attack that sparked fears of a regional proxy war between Washington and Tehran. The killing of Irans Major General Qasem Soleimani on Friday was the most dramatic escalation yet in spiralling tensions between Iran and the United States, which pledged to send thousands more troops to the region. Iraqi political leaders and clerics attended the mass ceremony to honour 62-year-old Soleimani and the other nine victim of the pre-dawn attack on Baghdad international airport. US President Donald Trump said he had decided to terminate Irans military mastermind to prevent an imminent attack on US diplomats and troops. We took action last night to stop a war, he insisted. We did not take action to start a war. But a furious Iran has vowed revenge for the killing of Soleimani, the chief architect of its military operations across the Middle East. The response for a military action is a military action, Iranian ambassador to the United Nations Majid Takht Ravanchi told CNN, calling the strike an act of war. By whom, by when, where? That is for the future to witness. In the hours after the strike, the US reached out to Iran, with which it has had no direct diplomatic ties for decades. Switzerland, whose embassy in Tehran represents US interests, confirmed Saturday its charge daffaires had on Friday been informed of Irans position and in turn delivered the message of the United States. Irans Revolutionary Guards said Washington had used diplomatic measures to urge Tehran to respond in proportion to the strike a message Irans foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif slammed as foolish. Zarif also spoke with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who argued that the dangerous US military operation violates the basic norms of international relations and will aggravate regional tensions and turbulence, according to Chinese media. Mourners demand revenge The strike killed a total of five Iranian Guards and five members of Iraqs Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary network, whose members have close ties to Tehran. Among the dead was the Hasheds deputy Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, who was a top adviser and personal friend to Soleimani. Mass ceremonies started in Baghdad on Saturday for the dead, with Iraqs caretaker premier Adel Abdel Mahdi and top pro-Iran figures in large crowds accompanying the coffins. They were first brought to a revered Shiite shrine in northern Baghdad, where thousands of mourners chanted Death to America! Dressed in black, they waved white Hashed flags and massive portraits of Iranian and Iraqi leaders, furiously calling for revenge. The remains were then moved to the shrine city of Karbala and would ultimately end up in Najaf, where the Iraqis will be buried. The Guards remains would be flown to Iran, which has declared three days of mourning and religious rituals. As head of the Guards foreign operations arm, the Quds Force, Soleimani was a powerful figure domestically and oversaw Irans wide-ranging interventions in regional power struggles. He had long been considered a lethal foe by Washington, with Trump saying he should have been killed many years ago. Tehran has already named Soleimanis deputy, Esmail Qaani, to replace him. His first order of business was made clear Friday when Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei promised severe revenge for Soleimanis death. UN, Germany concerned; Russia, France condemn The USAs targeted killing of the Iranian top general could ignite conflict in the region, according to an Al Jazeera report quoting several world leaders. Addressing the volatile situation after the killing of Qasem Soleimani, those representing various countries and factions warned that the world has become a more dangerous place after the incident, and urged restraint on all sides. The high-profile killings come amid a sharp escalation in Iran-US tensions. Here is how the world players and regional factions have responded to the incident. United Nations UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is deeply concerned by the recent rise in tensions in the Middle East, his spokesperson said in a statement. The secretary general has consistently advocated for de-escalation in the Gulf, Farhan Haq said, adding, This is a moment in which leaders must exercise maximum restraint. The world cannot afford another war in the Gulf. Russia Russias foreign ministry condemned the killing of Soleimani and said it will increase tensions throughout the Middle East. An unnamed diplomat in the ministry told Russias state-run news agency TASS that they consider the killing an adventurist step. The head of the foreign affairs committee in Russias upper parliament house called the US airstrike a mistake that could boomerang on its organisers. Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Konstantin Kosachev in a Facebook post on Friday, stated that the move destroyed the last hope for resolving the issues around the Iran nuclear deal. Iran may accelerate making a nuclear weapon now, even if it didnt plan on doing it before, Kosachev said. France French President Emmanuel Macron and his foreign minister were reaching out to all the actors in the region, said Frances Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Amelie de Montchalin. We are waking up in a more dangerous world. Military escalation is always dangerous. When such actions, such operations, take place, we see that escalation is underway, Amelie de Montchalin said on RTL radio. Montchalin indicated that urgent reconciliation efforts are being launched behind the scenes. China China appealed for restraint from all sides, especially the United States. We urge the relevant sides, especially the United States, to remain calm and exercise restraint to avoid further escalating tensions, foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said at a daily news briefing. On Saturday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told his Iranian counterpart that the US should not abuse force and should instead seek solutions through dialogue. The dangerous US military operation violates the basic norms of international relations and will aggravate regional tensions and turbulence, Wang told Mohammad Javad Zarif according to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry. Germany Chancellor Angela Merkels spokeswoman Ulrike Demmer urged restraint and de-escalation. We are at a dangerous point of escalation. It is now important through prudence and restraint to contribute to the de-escalation, said an Al Jazeera report quoting Demmer. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said that the aim now is to prevent further escalation across the Middle East. We are making use of our diplomatic channels to Iran and to other states in the region, he said, adding, We have been in close contact with our British and French partners and with other European countries on how we can best work to calm the situation. Turkey The Turkish foreign ministry said that the killing of Soleimani will increase insecurity and instability in the region. In a written statement, the ministry said it was deeply concerned by the rising tensions between the USA and Iran, and that turning Iraq into an area of conflict will harm peace and stability in the region. Turkey has always been against foreign interventions, assassinations and sectarian conflicts in the region, Al Jazeera reported quoting the ministry. Syria The Syrian government accused Washington of trying to fuel conflict in the Middle East. Syria is certain that this cowardly US aggression ... will only strengthen determination to follow in the path of the resistances martyred leaders, a foreign ministry official was quoted as saying by the state news agency SANA. The official described the killings as a serious escalation of the situation in the region and accused the US of resorting to the methods of criminal gangs. NATO suspends Iraq ops Iraqis worry the US strike could unleash a new wave of destabilisation for Iraq, which only two years ago announced it had defeated the Islamic State group. Abdel Mahdi warned Friday it would spark a devastating war in Iraq, while President Barham Saleh pleaded for voices of reason to prevail. On Saturday, the Hashed said a new strike had hit a convoy of their forces north of Baghdad, with Iraqi state media blaming the US. But US-led coalition spokesman Myles Caggins denied involvement, telling AFP: There was no American or coalition strike. Amid the tensions, the Pentagon said up to 3,500 additional US troops would be dispatched to Iraqs neighbour Kuwait, to boost some 14,000 reinforcements already deployed to the region last year.