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Suleimani killing may spell end of Iran nuclear deal, Europe fears Suleimani killing may spell end of Iran nuclear deal, Europe fears
(32 minutes later)
Diplomats are also concerned that Iraq may expel the 5,000 US troops based in the countryDiplomats are also concerned that Iraq may expel the 5,000 US troops based in the country
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. The assassination of Qassem Suleimani may have dealt a devastating blow to hopes of keeping the Iran nuclear deal alive until the US 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. There is also concern that the Iraqi parliament will seek to expel the 5,000 US troops based in 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. These private concerns were voiced as European politicians publicly called 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.”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.” The clearest statement of support for Trump’s action came from the Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Just as Israel has the right of self-defense, the United States has exactly the same right,” he said.
“Qassem Soleimani is responsible for the death of American citizens and many other innocent people. He was planning more such attacks. President Trump deserves all the credit for acting swiftly, forcefully and decisively.”
France’s European affairs minister, Amélie de Montchalin, also called for calm. Speaking on French radio, she said any military escalation was always dangerous.
“At [the] 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.She said the French president, Emmanuel Macron, would be consulting widely on Friday.
Berlin also called for prudence and de-escalation, but German politicians on the left condemned the attack ordered by Donald Trump, one of the least popular global leaders in Germany.Berlin also called for prudence and de-escalation, but German politicians on the left condemned the attack ordered by Donald Trump, one of the least popular global leaders in Germany.
Similarly in London, the defeated Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said: “The assassination of Qassem Suleimani is an extremely serious and dangerous escalation of conflict in the Middle East. The UK government should urge restraint on the part of Iran and the US, and stand up to the belligerent actions and rhetoric coming from the US.” In London, the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, said: “The assassination of Qassem Suleimani is an extremely serious and dangerous escalation of conflict in the Middle East. The UK government should urge restraint on the part of Iran and the US, and stand up to the belligerent actions and rhetoric coming from the US.”
Many European capitals will fear that likely Iranian reprisals will deal a near fatal blow to their efforts to keep the nuclear deal, and wider European relations with Iran, on life support until the possible election of a new, more strategic US president willing to keep diplomatic lines open to Tehran. Many European capitals will fear that likely Iranian reprisals would deal a near-fatal blow to their efforts to keep the nuclear deal, and wider European relations with Iran, on life support until the possible election of a new, more strategic US president willing to keep diplomatic lines open to Tehran.
In the short term, hardliners within Iran are likely to benefit politically from the US airstrike in the parliamentary elections this spring. It also makes it certain that Iran will take its fifth step away from the nuclear deal in the next few days. Iran has been staging a phased withdrawal from the agreement in what it says is a response to US sanctions and a European failure to meet its commitments to trade with Iran. Plans for the Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, to travel to the US for a meeting of the UN security council in New York are also likely to be jettisoned. In the short term, hardliners within Iran are likely to benefit politically from the US airstrike in parliamentary elections this spring. The killing also makes it certain Iran will take its fifth step away from the nuclear deal in the next few days.
European leaders will be equally concerned that the drone strike will destabilise Iraq further and encourage the Iraqi parliament to go ahead with pre-existing plans to vote to eject all US forces from their territory. The prediction by the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, that the killing of Suleimani would lead to “dancing in the streets of Baghdad” is not universally shared. Tehran has been staging a phased withdrawal from the agreement in what it says is a response to US sanctions and the European failure to meet commitments to trade with Iran. Plans for the Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif, to travel to the US for a meeting of the UN security council in New York are also likely to be jettisoned.
More predictably the attacks were condemned by the foreign ministry of Russia, a close ally of Iran in Syria, as “a reckless step that is likely to lead to an escalation of tensions in the region”. European leaders will be equally concerned that the drone strike might destabilise Iraq further and encourage the Iraqi parliament to go ahead with pre-existing plans to vote to eject all US forces. The prediction by the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, that the killing of Suleimani would lead to “dancing in the streets of Baghdad” is not universally shared.
China condemned the use of violence in international relations, saying: “The People’s Republic calls on the countries involved – especially the United States – to remain calm and to avoid a further escalation of the situation.” More predictably, the attacks were condemned by the Russian foreign ministry, a close ally of Iran in Syria, as “a reckless step that is likely to lead to an escalation of tensions in the region”.
China criticised the use of violence in international relations, saying: “The People’s Republic calls on the countries involved – especially the United States – to remain calm and to avoid a further escalation of the situation.”