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Qasem Soleimani: Raab urges Iran to take diplomatic route amid tensions Qasem Soleimani: Raab urges Iran to take diplomatic route amid tensions
(32 minutes later)
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has urged Iran to "take a diplomatic route" to reduce tensions with the West and come in "from the international cold". Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has urged Iran to "take a diplomatic route" to reduce tensions following the US killing of Iran's top military leader.
It comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East following the US killing of Iran's top military leader, Qasem Soleimani, in Iraq. Mr Raab told the BBC the UK understood why the US killed Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike in Iraq last week, but now wanted to avoid "a major war".
Mr Raab told the BBC the US "had a right to exercise self-defence". Iraqi MPs have responded by calling for foreign troops to leave the country.
He said the UK understood "why they did it" but now wanted to "de-escalate tensions" and avoid "a major war". And the US-led coalition against the Islamic State group said it will not be training local allies.
On Sunday, the US-led international coalition against the Islamic State group said it was suspending the training of local allies following repeated rocket attacks from an Iraqi militia group over the last two months. Instead the coalition said it would focus for now on protecting Iraqi bases that host US, UK and other coalition troops.
Instead, its focus will be on protecting Iraqi bases that host US, UK and other coalition troops, it said in a statement. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is due to return to the UK later and will talk to foreign leaders in the coming days.
MPs in Iraq - an ally of both neighbouring Iran and the US - then passed a resolution calling for foreign troops to leave their country.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has been criticised by Labour for not cutting short a 12-day holiday, is due to return to the UK later and will talk to foreign leaders in the coming days.
Soleimani, who had been head of the elite Iranian Quds Force, died in a US drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq, on Friday.Soleimani, who had been head of the elite Iranian Quds Force, died in a US drone strike in Baghdad, Iraq, on Friday.
His death marks a major escalation in tensions between the US and Iran, with Tehran vowing to avenge his killing. Tehran has vowed to avenge the general's killing.
US President Donald Trump tweeted that the US will strike 52 Iranian sites "very fast and very hard" if Tehran follows through with its vow of revenge. The US has pledged to send 3,000 extra troops to the region while the UK has 400 troops in the Middle East.
The US has pledged to send 3,000 extra troops to the region as a precaution. The UK has 400 troops based in the Middle East and works alongside US forces. Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr programme on Sunday, Mr Raab said the UK wanted to "de-escalate tensions".
Speaking to the BBC's Andrew Marr programme on Sunday, Mr Raab rejected the idea that the US assassination of Soleimani was an act of war, adding: "Iran has for a long period been engaged in menacing, de-stabilising activities." He rejected the idea the US killing of Soleimani was an act of war, adding: "Iran has for a long period been engaged in menacing, de-stabilising activities."
Pressed on whether the killing was legal, Mr Raab said: "My view is - and the operational assessment has been done by the Americans - is that there is a right of self-defence.Pressed on whether the killing was legal, Mr Raab said: "My view is - and the operational assessment has been done by the Americans - is that there is a right of self-defence.
"It was General Soleimani's job description to engage proxies, militias across not just Iraq but the whole region, not just to destabilize those countries but to attack Western countries... In those circumstances the right of self-defence clearly applies.""It was General Soleimani's job description to engage proxies, militias across not just Iraq but the whole region, not just to destabilize those countries but to attack Western countries... In those circumstances the right of self-defence clearly applies."
'Bleak possibility of unending violence''Bleak possibility of unending violence'
AnalysisAnalysis
By BBC diplomatic correspondent James RobbinsBy BBC diplomatic correspondent James Robbins
Under enormous pressure from the Trump Administration, Britain has edged very slightly closer to the Americans over the killing of Soleimani, but has still stopped well short of the sort of full-throated support Washington has demanded from its allies.Under enormous pressure from the Trump Administration, Britain has edged very slightly closer to the Americans over the killing of Soleimani, but has still stopped well short of the sort of full-throated support Washington has demanded from its allies.
In the absence of Boris Johnson on holiday in the Caribbean, it's been the foreign secretary who has articulated Britain's response.In the absence of Boris Johnson on holiday in the Caribbean, it's been the foreign secretary who has articulated Britain's response.
Dominic Raab is now stressing a little more the threat posed by Soleimani in life, without retreating from British warnings of the possible consequences of his death.Dominic Raab is now stressing a little more the threat posed by Soleimani in life, without retreating from British warnings of the possible consequences of his death.
So when Mr Raab told the BBC: "We understand the action they took but we need to be clearly focused on what happens next," it's important to note that "understanding" falls a long way short of endorsement or support. And in that single sentence, Mr Raab is determined to keep the focus on fears for the future.So when Mr Raab told the BBC: "We understand the action they took but we need to be clearly focused on what happens next," it's important to note that "understanding" falls a long way short of endorsement or support. And in that single sentence, Mr Raab is determined to keep the focus on fears for the future.
The foreign secretary made little effort to conceal widely-held British fears that Washington has no coherent step-by-step strategy to help get Iran to a better place on the world stage.The foreign secretary made little effort to conceal widely-held British fears that Washington has no coherent step-by-step strategy to help get Iran to a better place on the world stage.
Indeed, President Trump's tweets threatening 52 targets in Iran - one for each of the American hostages taken back in 1979 - seem to many observers to play right into the Iranian fundamentalist mindset by clinging to a history of grievance that seeks to avenge every wrong done by one side to the other.Indeed, President Trump's tweets threatening 52 targets in Iran - one for each of the American hostages taken back in 1979 - seem to many observers to play right into the Iranian fundamentalist mindset by clinging to a history of grievance that seeks to avenge every wrong done by one side to the other.
Taken at face value, the approach offers the bleak possibility of unending violence as long as neither side offers a different path.Taken at face value, the approach offers the bleak possibility of unending violence as long as neither side offers a different path.
Mr Raab said he first became aware of the killing of Soleimani "as it happened" and spoke to US counterpart Mike Pompeo - who he will meet for pre-arranged talks in Washington this week - on Friday.Mr Raab said he first became aware of the killing of Soleimani "as it happened" and spoke to US counterpart Mike Pompeo - who he will meet for pre-arranged talks in Washington this week - on Friday.
Challenged on whether it could have helped the UK to be warned about the airstrike in advance, Mr Raab said: "I'm not sure it would have made the kind of wholesale difference that you're suggesting."Challenged on whether it could have helped the UK to be warned about the airstrike in advance, Mr Raab said: "I'm not sure it would have made the kind of wholesale difference that you're suggesting."
Mr Raab added the "important thing now is to de-escalate the tensions and try and restore some stability" - while trying to contain Iran's "nefarious actions".Mr Raab added the "important thing now is to de-escalate the tensions and try and restore some stability" - while trying to contain Iran's "nefarious actions".
"We also need to see that there's a route, a door left ajar for a diplomatic solution so that when the leadership in Tehran wake up to their options, they understand there is a positive route through for them.""We also need to see that there's a route, a door left ajar for a diplomatic solution so that when the leadership in Tehran wake up to their options, they understand there is a positive route through for them."
Asked about the criticism over Mr Johnson being on holiday during the recent developments, Mr Raab said he had been "in constant contact with the prime minister over the Christmas break on a whole range of foreign policy issues".Asked about the criticism over Mr Johnson being on holiday during the recent developments, Mr Raab said he had been "in constant contact with the prime minister over the Christmas break on a whole range of foreign policy issues".
Speaking on Sky's Sophy Ridge programme, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry accused Mr Johnson of "sunning himself" and "not paying attention" to the recent developments.Speaking on Sky's Sophy Ridge programme, shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry accused Mr Johnson of "sunning himself" and "not paying attention" to the recent developments.
"We've had three Cobra meetings where Mark Sedwill, the chief civil servant, has had to chair it because the prime minister hasn't been available," she said."We've had three Cobra meetings where Mark Sedwill, the chief civil servant, has had to chair it because the prime minister hasn't been available," she said.
Mr Johnson has yet to speak publicly about the US airstrike or subsequent threats from Iran. Mr Johnson has yet to speak publicly about the US airstrike or threats from Iran.
Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said HMS Montrose and HMS Defender will accompany UK-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz, as they did between July and November following the seizure of a British-flagged tanker by Iran. HMS Montrose and HMS Defender will accompany UK-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz, as they did between July and November following the seizure of a British-flagged tanker by Iran.
He said he had spoken to his US counterpart, Mark Esper, on Friday and urged all parties to de-escalate the situation.
On Sunday, a crowd of more than 100 people waving Iranian and Iraqi flags protested against the killing of Soleimani outside the US embassy in London, with chants aimed at Mr Johnson and Mr Raab.On Sunday, a crowd of more than 100 people waving Iranian and Iraqi flags protested against the killing of Soleimani outside the US embassy in London, with chants aimed at Mr Johnson and Mr Raab.
Mr Pompeo had criticised America's European allies for not being "helpful" in the wake of the assassination. However, he later said in a tweet that he was "thankful that our allies recognise the continuing aggressive threats posed by the Iranian Quds Force". Mr Pompeo had criticised America's European allies for not being "helpful" in the wake of the killing. However, he later said in a tweet that he was "thankful that our allies recognise the continuing aggressive threats posed by the Iranian Quds Force".
Mr Raab is expected to meet his French and German counterparts before travelling to the US capital on Thursday.Mr Raab is expected to meet his French and German counterparts before travelling to the US capital on Thursday.
Following the airstrike, the Foreign Office has hardened its travel advice for Britons in Iraq and Iran.Following the airstrike, the Foreign Office has hardened its travel advice for Britons in Iraq and Iran.
In its advice, published on Saturday, the Foreign Office said there is a risk that British or British-Iranian dual nationals "could be arbitrarily detained or arrested in Iran". In its advice, published on Saturday, the Foreign Office said there is a risk British or British-Iranian dual nationals "could be arbitrarily detained or arrested in Iran".
The Foreign Office also said alerts for other parts of the Middle East were being increased, with calls for citizens to "remain vigilant" in nations including Afghanistan, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.The Foreign Office also said alerts for other parts of the Middle East were being increased, with calls for citizens to "remain vigilant" in nations including Afghanistan, Israel, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
It advised people to keep up to date with developments via the media and its own travel advice.