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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.” US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said he has spoken to Russia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and “emphasized that de-escalation is the United States’ principal goal” after launching a drone strike that killed Iran’s top general.
The French government has released a statement on the conversation between Jean-Yves Le Drian, the country’s minister of Europe and foreign affairs, and US secretary of state Mike Pompeo regarding the Suleimani strike.
“The minister underscored France’s concern over the rise in tensions in the Middle East over the past several months, with a sudden escalation in Iraq in recent weeks,” the statement reads.
“For France and all of its partners, every effort must now be made to avoid a further escalation of tensions and to facilitate de-escalation in order to preserve the stability of Iraq and the region as a whole.
“In the current situation, France calls on all the parties to show restraint and on Iran to avoid taking any measures liable to aggravate regional instability or lead to a serious nuclear proliferation crisis.”
Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, who is a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, released a statement on the Suleimani strike warning of the “immediate and very real dangers to American citizens in and out of uniform in the Middle East.”
“There is no question that Qassim Suleimani was a threat to that safety and security, and that he masterminded threats and attacks on Americans and our allies, leading to hundreds of deaths,” Buttigieg said. “But there are serious questions about how this decision was made and whether we are prepared for the consequences.”
The former Indiana mayor concluded his statement by warning against the possibility of “another endless war” and implicitly criticizing Donald Trump, who has been active on Twitter today.
“As we learn more in the coming days and weeks, one thing is clear: this must not be the start of another endless war,” Buttigieg said. “We must act wisely and deliberately, not capriciously or through Twitter.”
Elissa Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who now serves as a Democratic congresswoman, wrote in a tweet thread that the Trump administration must immediately confer with Congress about its strategy following the Suleimani strike.
Slotkin noted she served under two presidents, Barack Obama and George W Bush, who both decided against attacking Suleimani out of fear of retaliation. “The two administrations I worked for both determined that the ultimate ends didn’t justify the means,” Slotkin wrote. “The Trump Administration has made a different calculation. ...
“It is critical that the Administration has thought out the moves and counter-moves this attack will precipitate, and is prepared to protect our diplomats, service members, and citizens serving overseas. ...
“This Admin., like all others, has the right to act in self-defense. But the Administration must come to Congress immediately and consult,” Slotkin continued. “Congress needs to understand the Administration’s plan as soon as possible.”
Barbara Slavin, the director of the Future of Iran Initiative at the Atlantic Council, writes 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: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.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.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 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.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”.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.