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Qasem Soleimani: PM 'will not lament' Iranian general's death Qasem Soleimani: PM 'will not lament' Iranian general's death
(32 minutes later)
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said "we will not lament" Qasem Soleimani's death, describing him as "a threat to all our interests". Boris Johnson has said "we will not lament" the death of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, describing him as "a threat to all our interests".
But he called for "de-escalation from all sides" following the killing of the Iranian general in a US airstrike in Iraq on Friday. But the prime minister called for "de-escalation from all sides" following the killing in a US airstrike in Iraq on Friday.
Mr Johnson's statement comes as Iraqi MPs call for foreign troops to leave.Mr Johnson's statement comes as Iraqi MPs call for foreign troops to leave.
The UK has urged Iraq to allow British troops to continue the fight against the Islamic State group there.The UK has urged Iraq to allow British troops to continue the fight against the Islamic State group there.
Mr Johnson said he has spoken with the leaders of France, the US and Germany following the death of the Iranian general, who spearheaded the country's military operations in the Middle East as head of the elite Quds Force. With tensions rising in the region following the drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, Iran has responded by vowing revenge and announcing it will no longer abide by the restrictions in its 2015 nuclear deal.
Tehran has vowed to avenge the general's killing, which had been ordered by US President Donald Trump. Mr Johnson said he has spoken with the leaders of France, the US and Germany about the death of the Iranian general, who spearheaded the country's military operations in the Middle East as head of the elite Quds Force.
In his first public statement since Soleimani's death, the prime minister said the 62-year-old had been "responsible for a pattern of disruptive, destabilising behaviour in the region".In his first public statement since Soleimani's death, the prime minister said the 62-year-old had been "responsible for a pattern of disruptive, destabilising behaviour in the region".
"Given the leading role he has played in actions that have led to the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and western personnel, we will not lament his death," Mr Johnson said."Given the leading role he has played in actions that have led to the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and western personnel, we will not lament his death," Mr Johnson said.
"It is clear, however, that all calls for retaliation or reprisals will simply lead to more violence in the region and they are in no one's interest.""It is clear, however, that all calls for retaliation or reprisals will simply lead to more violence in the region and they are in no one's interest."
Downing Street said the prime minister, who has faced criticism for continuing his holiday in the Caribbean following the attack, arrived back in the UK on Sunday.
Mr Johnson said the UK was in "close contact" with all sides to encourage de-escalation and said Parliament will be updated when it resumes sitting on Tuesday.Mr Johnson said the UK was in "close contact" with all sides to encourage de-escalation and said Parliament will be updated when it resumes sitting on Tuesday.
But the killing has already raised tensions in the region, with Iran responding to the attack by announcing that it will no longer abide by the restrictions in its 2015 nuclear deal. Iraqi MPs have responded to the drone strike by passing a non-binding resolution calling for an end to the foreign military presence. Caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi spoke in favour of US and other foreign forces leaving, although most Sunni and Kurdish MPs boycotted the vote.
Iraqi MPs also responded to the drone strike by passing a non-binding resolution calling for an end to the foreign military presence, backed by caretaker Prime Minister Adel Abdul Mahdi.
'Shared threat''Shared threat'
About 400 British troops are stationed in Iraq, while the US has 5,200.
A UK government spokesman said that coalition forces were in Iraq to protect its people and others from the Islamic State group.A UK government spokesman said that coalition forces were in Iraq to protect its people and others from the Islamic State group.
"We urge the Iraqi government to ensure the coalition is able to continue our vital work countering this shared threat," he said."We urge the Iraqi government to ensure the coalition is able to continue our vital work countering this shared threat," he said.
Meanwhile, HMS Montrose and HMS Defender are to start accompanying UK-flagged ships through the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, where a tanker was seized by Iran last year.
Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who told the BBC's Andrew Marr show that he learned of the US attack on Soleimani "as it happened", spoke to the Iraqi prime minister on Sunday morning.Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, who told the BBC's Andrew Marr show that he learned of the US attack on Soleimani "as it happened", spoke to the Iraqi prime minister on Sunday morning.
Mr Raab defended the killing because of the US's "right to self-defence" against Soleimani's use of militia's to destabilise the region and attack Western forces.Mr Raab defended the killing because of the US's "right to self-defence" against Soleimani's use of militia's to destabilise the region and attack Western forces.
He also defended Mr Johnson for being on holiday as the crisis unfolded, saying that he had been "in constant contact with the prime minister over the Christmas break on a whole range of foreign policy issues".He also defended Mr Johnson for being on holiday as the crisis unfolded, saying that he had been "in constant contact with the prime minister over the Christmas break on a whole range of foreign policy issues".
But Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry accused the prime minister of "sunning himself" while the chief civil servant chaired three meetings of Cobra, the government's emergency response committee. Shadow foreign secretary and Labour leadership candidate Emily Thornberry accused the prime minister of "sunning himself" while the chief civil servant chaired three meetings of Cobra, the government's emergency response committee.
Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon, who is standing to be Labour deputy leader, said Mr Johnson's response was "pathetic", adding that he should stand up to a US president "recklessly threatening to launch a war".