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Iran crisis: Trump says Suleimani 'should have been taken out years ago' – live updates Iran crisis: Trump says Suleimani 'should have been taken out years ago' – live updates
(32 minutes later)
World reacts to news of US drone strike ordered by Donald Trump on Iranian general Qassem Suleimani in BaghdadWorld reacts to news of US drone strike ordered by Donald Trump on Iranian general Qassem Suleimani in Baghdad
Barbara Slavin, the director of the Future of Iran Initiative at the Atlantic Council, wrote in a New York Times op-ed that the current state of US-Iranian relations is “tragic” and “the product of a series of strategic blunders.”
Slavin writes:
Most Democratic lawmakers have criticised Donald Trump’s authorisation of the Suleimani strike on the basis that the president did not seek congressional approval and acted without serious consideration of the potential consequences.
However, some Democrats, including the congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, have started accusing Trump of only choosing to attack Suleimani because he believed it would help his chances in this year’s presidential election.
The Trump administration reportedly intends to brief the congressional “gang of eight” on the Suleimani strike soon, after Democratic leaders complained they were not given advance notice of the attack.
The gang of eight includes the Senate majority leader, Mitch McConnell, Senate minority leader, Chuck Schumer, House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, Senate intelligence committee chairman, Richard Burr, Senate intelligence committee ranking member, Mark Warner, House intelligence committee chairman, Adam Schiff, and House intelligence committee ranking member, Devin Nunes.
Schumer has said he did not receive advance notice of the strike, and Pelosi said in a statement last night that the action “was taken without the consultation of the Congress”.
Mitra Jalali Nelson, an Iranian-Korean city council member in St Paul, Minnesota, posted a moving tweet thread last night in response to the killing of Qassem Suleimani.Mitra Jalali Nelson, an Iranian-Korean city council member in St Paul, Minnesota, posted a moving tweet thread last night in response to the killing of Qassem Suleimani.
The city council member, who is one of only a handful of Iranian-Americans currently serving in elected office, said that fallout from the 9/11 attacks had scared many members of her community away from political engagement.The city council member, who is one of only a handful of Iranian-Americans currently serving in elected office, said that fallout from the 9/11 attacks had scared many members of her community away from political engagement.
“For so many Persian kids & Iranian-American families in your lives today, this news has us sick and terrified. It isn’t just political analysis & viral Twitter takes to us. It is about a lifetime of broken U.S. Iran policy shaping a volatile current we have swum in for decades,” Jalali Nelson wrote.“For so many Persian kids & Iranian-American families in your lives today, this news has us sick and terrified. It isn’t just political analysis & viral Twitter takes to us. It is about a lifetime of broken U.S. Iran policy shaping a volatile current we have swum in for decades,” Jalali Nelson wrote.
“Without knowing what will happen or plunging into speculation what I can tell you on a human level is that this is a sickening, sad & terribly dangerous moment in our history,” she continued. “We need your solidarity. We need your congressional action, popular action, anything for #NoWarWithIran.”“Without knowing what will happen or plunging into speculation what I can tell you on a human level is that this is a sickening, sad & terribly dangerous moment in our history,” she continued. “We need your solidarity. We need your congressional action, popular action, anything for #NoWarWithIran.”
Michael Morell, the former acting and deputy CIA director, predicted there would be “dead civilian Americans” as a result of the killing of Qassem Suleimani.Michael Morell, the former acting and deputy CIA director, predicted there would be “dead civilian Americans” as a result of the killing of Qassem Suleimani.
“Suleimani was an evil genius, he had a lot of American blood on his hands,” Morell told CBS News. “The world is a better place without him. The problem is that comes at a very high cost.“Suleimani was an evil genius, he had a lot of American blood on his hands,” Morell told CBS News. “The world is a better place without him. The problem is that comes at a very high cost.
“Number one, there will be dead Americans, dead civilian Americans, as a result of this. Possibly over the next few days in any place where Iran has its proxies. Iraq is the most likely place, but also Lebanon, Bahrain, other places in the Middle East.”“Number one, there will be dead Americans, dead civilian Americans, as a result of this. Possibly over the next few days in any place where Iran has its proxies. Iraq is the most likely place, but also Lebanon, Bahrain, other places in the Middle East.”
Morell also predicted that Iran’s proxies would “conduct a terrorist strike that kills a senior American official”. He added that the attack could take place “anywhere in the world”, including potentially on US soil.Morell also predicted that Iran’s proxies would “conduct a terrorist strike that kills a senior American official”. He added that the attack could take place “anywhere in the world”, including potentially on US soil.
Anti-US protests are sweeping Iran, as supporters of general Qassem Suleimani take to the streets to burn American flags and chant: “Down with USA!”Anti-US protests are sweeping Iran, as supporters of general Qassem Suleimani take to the streets to burn American flags and chant: “Down with USA!”
One man praised Suleimani as a “self-giving person” and another attacked America as a “terrorist state”.One man praised Suleimani as a “self-giving person” and another attacked America as a “terrorist state”.
In a new tweet, Donald Trump suggested the Iraqi government was acting ungrateful to the US after American forces launched a drone strike in Baghdad, killing the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani.In a new tweet, Donald Trump suggested the Iraqi government was acting ungrateful to the US after American forces launched a drone strike in Baghdad, killing the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani.
The Iraqi prime minister said in a statement earlier today that the drone attack represented “a flagrant violation of Iraqi sovereignty and a dangerous escalation”.The Iraqi prime minister said in a statement earlier today that the drone attack represented “a flagrant violation of Iraqi sovereignty and a dangerous escalation”.
One of Donald Trump’s congressional allies, Lindsey Graham, said he was briefed on the imminent drone strike that killed Suleimani when he visited the US president at his Florida resort earlier this week.One of Donald Trump’s congressional allies, Lindsey Graham, said he was briefed on the imminent drone strike that killed Suleimani when he visited the US president at his Florida resort earlier this week.
Graham’s admission is notable considering Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House, has suggested she was not given advance notice of the strike.Graham’s admission is notable considering Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic speaker of the House, has suggested she was not given advance notice of the strike.
“[T]his action was taken without the consultation of the Congress,” Pelosi said in a statement last night. “The full Congress must be immediately briefed on this serious situation and on the next steps under consideration by the administration, including the significant escalation of the deployment of additional troops to the region.”“[T]his action was taken without the consultation of the Congress,” Pelosi said in a statement last night. “The full Congress must be immediately briefed on this serious situation and on the next steps under consideration by the administration, including the significant escalation of the deployment of additional troops to the region.”
The chairman of Britain’s foreign affairs committee in the last parliament has suggested that the UK government was not aware that the US was going to carry out an airstrike attempting to kill Suleimani.The chairman of Britain’s foreign affairs committee in the last parliament has suggested that the UK government was not aware that the US was going to carry out an airstrike attempting to kill Suleimani.
Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat said “the purpose of having allies is that we can surprise our enemies and not each other”.Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat said “the purpose of having allies is that we can surprise our enemies and not each other”.
“I would urge the US administration to share much more closely with allies, particularly those who are fighting alongside in the region, including us,” he told the BBC News channel.“I would urge the US administration to share much more closely with allies, particularly those who are fighting alongside in the region, including us,” he told the BBC News channel.
The world “cannot afford” another war in the Gulf, according to the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, who has issued a statement calling for leaders to “exercise restraint”.The world “cannot afford” another war in the Gulf, according to the UN secretary general, Antonio Guterres, who has issued a statement calling for leaders to “exercise restraint”.
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the secretary general, said:Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the secretary general, said:
In Israel, the army has closed the Mount Hermon ski resort on the annexed Golan Heights, a disputed territory which borders Syria and Lebanon.In Israel, the army has closed the Mount Hermon ski resort on the annexed Golan Heights, a disputed territory which borders Syria and Lebanon.
Fighters from the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah, Israel’s bitter foe with which it fought a devastating war in 2006, are deployed on the other side of the armistice line.Fighters from the Iranian-backed Lebanese Shia group Hezbollah, Israel’s bitter foe with which it fought a devastating war in 2006, are deployed on the other side of the armistice line.
The AFP press agency reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short a foreign visit while his defence minister, Naftali Bennett, chaired a meeting of security chiefs, including the heads of the army, the national security council and the Mossad intelligence agency.The AFP press agency reports that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cut short a foreign visit while his defence minister, Naftali Bennett, chaired a meeting of security chiefs, including the heads of the army, the national security council and the Mossad intelligence agency.
Royal Jordanian Airlines has suspended flights to Baghdad airport due to the security situation in the Iraqi capital, according to Reuters.Royal Jordanian Airlines has suspended flights to Baghdad airport due to the security situation in the Iraqi capital, according to Reuters.
The state carrier, which has 18 scheduled flights every week to Baghdad, said its flights to other Iraqi cities were not affected and operating normally.The state carrier, which has 18 scheduled flights every week to Baghdad, said its flights to other Iraqi cities were not affected and operating normally.
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So what next? The word “asymmetric” is being used quite a bit by experts and those familiar with Middle East geopolitics to describe the likely response Iran will take. In short, it won’t be a military one in the conventional sense.
Qassem Suleimani had the status of a national hero even among secular Iranians and his death could act as a rallying cry, writes Mohammad Ali Shabani, a doctoral researcher at Soas University of London.
He writes in a piece for the Guardian:
Donald Trump has been on Twitter again, this time saying that Suleimani “should have been taken out years ago” and that he was “both hated and feared” within Iran.
This is Ben Quinn picking up the blog from Aamna Mohdin
The chairman of the foreign affairs committee in the last parliament has suggested the UK government did not know the US was going to carry out an airstrike to kill Suleimani.
Tom Tugendhat told BBC News: “Well I’ve long believed that the purpose of having allies is that we can surprise our enemies and not each other, and it’s been a pattern, sadly, which has been a bit of a shame, that the US administration of late has not shared with us and that is a matter of concern.
“I would urge the US administration to share much more closely with allies, particularly those who are fighting alongside in the region, including us.”
He added: “But this is a tactical point. A strategic point is that the United States has rocked the regime much more than for example the death of Osama bin Laden rocked the jihadist movement. This is a much more significant incident.”
Tugendhat said the airstrike “will doubtless have consequences”.
The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, has said the airstrikes that killed Qassem Suleimani “saved American lives”.
Speaking on CNN, Pompeo said the Iranian general was “actively plotting in the region to take action, big actions he described it, that would have put thousands, if not hundreds American lives at risk”.
Pompeo said the airstrike was driven by “an intelligence-based assessment”, adding: “The American people also know the history of Qassem Suleimani. Hundreds of American lives on his hands too.”
He added: “Last night was the time we needed to strike to make sure that this imminent attack that he was working actively was disrupted.”
When asked if there was any imminent threat to US homeland, Pompeo said: “These were threats located in the region.”
Pompeo went on to say that Donald Trump has shown “enormous restraint to date”, but added the government had to act because “the risk of doing nothing was enormous. Intelligence community made that assessment.”
You can watch the full interview below.
Here’s Donald Trump’s latest tweet on the crisis.
The Liberal Democrats have criticised Donald Trump for “radically and recklessly” escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The Lib Dem acting leader, Ed Davey, said: “Iran is governed by a brutal regime which has been openly hostile to the west.
“Donald Trump has yet again radically and recklessly escalated tensions in an area where peacekeeping was already on a knife edge.
“There is a real danger this will stoke further conflict, undermining peace and stability in the region. Given the severity of the crisis, the prime minister must make a statement about the UK’s position immediately.
“The UK should not automatically follow whatever position the Trump administration takes, but work with a broader group of concerned states at the United Nations.”
The US assassination of Qassem Suleimani may have dealt a final blow to hopes of keeping the Iranian nuclear deal alive until the American elections next year, European diplomats fear.
There is also concern that the Iraqi parliament will seek to expel the 5,000 US troops from Iraq with unpredictable consequences for the region, including the fight against Islamic State.
These private concerns were voiced amid public European calls for all sides to de-escalate the crisis, appeals that are unlikely to be heeded in Tehran, which is intent on some form of reprisal.
In a statement that neither condemned nor condoned the killing of Suleimani, the UK foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, said: “We have always recognised the aggressive threat posed by the Iranian Quds force led by Qassem Suleimani. Following his death, we urge all parties to de-escalate. Further conflict is in none of our interests.”
France’s European minister, Amélie de Montchalin, also called for calm. Speaking on French radio, she said any military escalation was always dangerous. “At European level, we have to work in collective multilateral frameworks and prevent the powers, one against the other, from playing their game in an unpredictable manner,” she said. “Our role is not to stand on one side or the other, it is to speak with everyone.”
She said the French president, Emmanuel Macron, would be consulting widely on Friday
Mike Pompeo has said the US remains committed to de-escalation with Iran in a series of tweets.
The US secretary of state says he has spoken to the British foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, China’s top diplomat, Yang Jiechi, and Germany’s minister of foreign affairs, Heiko Maas, about the US decision to kill Suleimani, who commanded Iran’s elite Quds force.