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Boris Johnson will not back Trump’s threat of targeting Iran’s cultural sites Boris Johnson will not back Trump’s threat of targeting Iran’s cultural sites
(32 minutes later)
LONDON — In his first big foreign policy test since his landslide election victory, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Monday that Britain will not support President Trump’s threat to target cultural sites in Iran. LONDON — In his first big foreign policy test since his landslide election victory, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned Monday that Britain will not support President Trump's threat to target cultural sites in Iran.
Johnson also issued a joint statement, alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, calling on “all parties to exercise utmost restraint and responsibility. The current cycle of violence in Iraq must be stopped.”Johnson also issued a joint statement, alongside German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, calling on “all parties to exercise utmost restraint and responsibility. The current cycle of violence in Iraq must be stopped.”
Johnson is trying to strike a balancing act. He is under pressure to support Trump and the United States, Britain’s closest ally. He very much wants a free trade deal with Washington, to show his country that his Brexit crusade was worth the price.Johnson is trying to strike a balancing act. He is under pressure to support Trump and the United States, Britain’s closest ally. He very much wants a free trade deal with Washington, to show his country that his Brexit crusade was worth the price.
But Johnson is also a student of history — and remembers well how former British prime minister Tony Blair was seen as the gullible, junior partner to President George W. Bush and his headlong rush to war in Iraq.But Johnson is also a student of history — and remembers well how former British prime minister Tony Blair was seen as the gullible, junior partner to President George W. Bush and his headlong rush to war in Iraq.
Britons are watching whether Johnson can remain his own man in his relationship with Trump and represent British interests first.Britons are watching whether Johnson can remain his own man in his relationship with Trump and represent British interests first.
Iran has threatened retaliation for last week’s targeted killing in Baghdad of its military leader Qasem Soleimani. While not as exposed as the U.S. military, Britain has 400 troops stationed in Iraq, plus British embassies and British businesses, including oil infrastructure, across the Middle East. Iran has threatened retaliation for last week’s targeted killing in Baghdad of military leader Qasem Soleimani. While not as exposed as the U.S. military, Britain has 400 troops stationed in Iraq, plus British embassies and British businesses, including oil infrastructure, across the Middle East.
The Royal Navy is currently patrolling the Strait of Hormuz off Iran, serving as deterrent against attacks on commercial shipping.The Royal Navy is currently patrolling the Strait of Hormuz off Iran, serving as deterrent against attacks on commercial shipping.
British troops who had been training Iraqi security forces saw their mission “paused” over the weekend amid the heightened tensions, according to a statement from the Combined Joint Task Force coalition.British troops who had been training Iraqi security forces saw their mission “paused” over the weekend amid the heightened tensions, according to a statement from the Combined Joint Task Force coalition.
The British news media reported that Johnson wasn't told about the U.S. airstrike against Soleimani in advance. Ryan Crocker, a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan, told the BBC that was a mistake. The British news media reported that Johnson wasn’t told about the U.S. airstrike against Soleimani in advance. Ryan Crocker, a former U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan, told the BBC that was a mistake.
“Britain is and has been for a number of years our foremost ally,” he told the broadcaster. “When we undertake an action like this, it can have grave consequences for our allies. We, I think, owe it to them to consult in advance.”“Britain is and has been for a number of years our foremost ally,” he told the broadcaster. “When we undertake an action like this, it can have grave consequences for our allies. We, I think, owe it to them to consult in advance.”
Johnson, who like Trump had been on vacation at the time of the strike, was criticized for allowing 68 hours to pass before releasing a statement on Sunday.Johnson, who like Trump had been on vacation at the time of the strike, was criticized for allowing 68 hours to pass before releasing a statement on Sunday.
An official spokesman for 10 Downing Street, who by protocol briefs reporters without use of his name, said Johnson was in contact with his ministers over the weekend, and noted that Britain’ s foreign secretary had issued an early statement on the U.S. attack. An official spokesman for 10 Downing Street, who by protocol briefs reporters without use of his name, said Johnson was in contact with his ministers over the weekend, and noted that Britain’s foreign secretary had issued an early statement on the U.S. attack.
Johnson’s spokesman said his government did not believe Trump would follow through on his threat, tweeted over the weekend, to attack Iranian cultural sites. The spokesman cautioned that the 1954 Hague convention demands protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict.Johnson’s spokesman said his government did not believe Trump would follow through on his threat, tweeted over the weekend, to attack Iranian cultural sites. The spokesman cautioned that the 1954 Hague convention demands protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict.
In Johnson’s first statement on the attack, issued after he spoke to Trump on Sunday, the prime minister made no comment about the wisdom of the U.S. decision to kill Soleimani.In Johnson’s first statement on the attack, issued after he spoke to Trump on Sunday, the prime minister made no comment about the wisdom of the U.S. decision to kill Soleimani.
Instead, Johnson said Britain “will not lament” the passing of the Iranian general, “given the leading role he has played in... the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and western personnel.” Johnson also echoed other European leaders who have called for de-escalation from “all sides.” Instead, Johnson said Britain “will not lament” the passing of the Iranian general, “given the leading role he has played in . . . the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and western personnel.” Johnson also echoed other European leaders who have called for de-escalation from “all sides.”
“The language he is using is very interesting,” said Robin Niblett, director of Chatham House, a London think tank. Niblett said Johnson “has to be very careful about signals he sends indirectly” to Germany, France and Italy, to the Trump administration and to the Iranians themselves, “so he doesn’t turn the U.K. into a target.” “The language he is using is very interesting,” said Robin Niblett, director of Chatham House, a London think tank. Niblett said Johnson “has to be very careful about signals he sends indirectly” to Germany, France and Italy, to the Trump administration, and to the Iranians themselves, “so he doesn’t turn the U.K. into a target.”
Niblett noted that there is little support domestically for “gung-ho U.K. foreign policy” against Iran.Niblett noted that there is little support domestically for “gung-ho U.K. foreign policy” against Iran.
Johnson can’t be seen “leaning too far forward alongside the Americans on the maximum pressure line,” Niblett said. The prime minister is trying to “keep himself as flexible as possible and just not get himself cornered in any shape or form if he can help it.”Johnson can’t be seen “leaning too far forward alongside the Americans on the maximum pressure line,” Niblett said. The prime minister is trying to “keep himself as flexible as possible and just not get himself cornered in any shape or form if he can help it.”
The Times of London carried a front-page article on Monday with the headline, “We will kill UK troops, warns Iran.”The Times of London carried a front-page article on Monday with the headline, “We will kill UK troops, warns Iran.”
An unnamed source in Iran’s elite Quds Force told the paper that British soldiers could be “collateral damage” in any retaliatory attacks in the Middle East directed at the U.S. military. An unnamed official in Iran’s elite Quds Force told the paper that British soldiers could be “collateral damage” in any retaliatory attacks in the Middle East directed at the U.S. military.
Hamid Baeidinejad, Iran’s ambassador to Britain, dismissed the article. He tweeted: “I strongly condemn the vicious lie and provocative news by #Times today. I will ask the concerned UK authorities to take swift action to stop such malicious false propaganda in this very sensitive time.”Hamid Baeidinejad, Iran’s ambassador to Britain, dismissed the article. He tweeted: “I strongly condemn the vicious lie and provocative news by #Times today. I will ask the concerned UK authorities to take swift action to stop such malicious false propaganda in this very sensitive time.”
Meanwhile in Brussels, NATO ambassadors meeting for an emergency session on Iran called for “restraint and de-escalation.”Meanwhile in Brussels, NATO ambassadors meeting for an emergency session on Iran called for “restraint and de-escalation.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg Stoltenberg said the ambassadors had received a briefing from U.S. officials about the reasoning for the strike on Soleimani. Along with the Brits, the 29-nation alliance suspended its training mission in Iraq after attack. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the ambassadors had received a briefing from U.S. officials about the reasoning for the strike on Soleimani. Along with the Brits, the 29-nation alliance suspended its training mission in Iraq after the attack.
“A new conflict would be in no one’s interest,” Stoltenberg said Monday. “We are ready to restart the training when the situation on the ground makes that possible.”“A new conflict would be in no one’s interest,” Stoltenberg said Monday. “We are ready to restart the training when the situation on the ground makes that possible.”
NATO allies are wary of being sucked into a conflict between Iran and the United States. The alliance would be tested if Tehran attacked the United States and U.S. leaders were to trigger NATO’s all-for-one, one-for-all mutual-defense clauses, as they did in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. NATO allies are wary of being sucked into a conflict between Iran and the United States. The alliance would be tested if Tehran attacked the United States and U.S. leaders were to trigger NATO’s all-for-one, one-for-all mutual-defense clauses, as they did in the wake of the 9/11 attacks.
But Stoltenberg insisted there was a “very strong unity from all allies” in response to a reporter’s question about whether there was any concern about Soleimani’s death.But Stoltenberg insisted there was a “very strong unity from all allies” in response to a reporter’s question about whether there was any concern about Soleimani’s death.
E.U. foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting on Friday in Brussels, diplomats said Monday. The foreign ministers will discuss whether to trigger a process that could eventually lead to the reimposition of sanctions on Iran and the full unraveling of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.E.U. foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting on Friday in Brussels, diplomats said Monday. The foreign ministers will discuss whether to trigger a process that could eventually lead to the reimposition of sanctions on Iran and the full unraveling of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Michael Birnbaum in Brussels contributed to this report.Michael Birnbaum in Brussels contributed to this report.
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