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| Iran: Suleimani funeral crush death toll rises to more than 50 - latest updates | Iran: Suleimani funeral crush death toll rises to more than 50 - latest updates |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Mourners are crushed in city of Kerman during procession for general killed by US drone strike | Mourners are crushed in city of Kerman during procession for general killed by US drone strike |
| British ships and helicopters have been placed on standby in the Middle East in case there is a further military escalation of the Iran crisis, the defence minister told MPs in the Commons. | |
| Ben Wallace said the UK had taken “urgent measures” to protect British nationals and interests in Iraq and other nearby countries should Iran retaliate after the assassination of Suleimani. | |
| The cabinet minister said it was necessary to “change the readiness of our forces”, which include an estimated 400 troops in Iraq, and two warships, the HMS Montrose and the HMS Defender in the Persian Gulf. | |
| Iranian military forces have said they are prepared to use medium- to long-range missiles to attack US bases in the Middle East, in revenge for the assassination of Suleimani. | |
| According to a report by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, Iran has prepared 13 scenarios for retaliation, and the secretary of Iran’s national security council said that even the most limited of the options would be a “historic nightmare” for the US. | |
| Ali Shamkhani told the news agency: “The 27 US bases that are closest to Iran’s border are already on high alert; they know that the response is likely to include medium-range & long-range missiles.” | |
| Iran’s foreign ministry has summoned the UK ambassador to Iran, Rob Macaire, following what state media describes as “unacceptable remarks” by Boris Johnson and Ben Wallace. | |
| It comes amid reports that an adviser to Iran’s foreign ministry described the UK as a “partner in crime” to the US over the killing of Suleimani. | |
| Saudi Arabia’s defence minister, Khalid bin Salman, is in London for talks with his UK counterpart to discuss the “war against terrorism and challenges facing our region”. | Saudi Arabia’s defence minister, Khalid bin Salman, is in London for talks with his UK counterpart to discuss the “war against terrorism and challenges facing our region”. |
| The UK government is putting in place “urgent measures” to protect British nationals and interests amid rising tensions in the Gulf, the defence secretary, Ben Wallace has said. PA Media reports: | The UK government is putting in place “urgent measures” to protect British nationals and interests amid rising tensions in the Gulf, the defence secretary, Ben Wallace has said. PA Media reports: |
| Here’s a summary of events so far: | Here’s a summary of events so far: |
| Dozens of people have been killed in a crush in the south-eastern Iranian city of Kerman, where hundreds of thousands of mourners have gathered for the burial of the military commander Qassem Suleimani. State media said 56 people had been killed and 213 injured. | Dozens of people have been killed in a crush in the south-eastern Iranian city of Kerman, where hundreds of thousands of mourners have gathered for the burial of the military commander Qassem Suleimani. State media said 56 people had been killed and 213 injured. |
| Suleimani’s burial has been postponed due to the size of the crowd. It comes a day after Iranian police said millions gathered to mourn Suleimani in Tehran, in the largest turnout since the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. | Suleimani’s burial has been postponed due to the size of the crowd. It comes a day after Iranian police said millions gathered to mourn Suleimani in Tehran, in the largest turnout since the 1989 funeral of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. |
| The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo has again defended the killing of Suleimani but provided no new evidence to support the US claim that the general posed a direct threat to US lives. At a press conference he accused Iran of propaganda by claiming Suleimani was in Baghdad on a diplomatic mission. Pompeo also said he was “confident” that lawyers were consulted before Donald Trump ordered the strike. | The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo has again defended the killing of Suleimani but provided no new evidence to support the US claim that the general posed a direct threat to US lives. At a press conference he accused Iran of propaganda by claiming Suleimani was in Baghdad on a diplomatic mission. Pompeo also said he was “confident” that lawyers were consulted before Donald Trump ordered the strike. |
| Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has vowed that Iran will respond “proportionately” to the killing of Suleimani. He described the US-ordered drone strike as an act of state terrorism and claimed Donald Trump had no respect for international law. | Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has vowed that Iran will respond “proportionately” to the killing of Suleimani. He described the US-ordered drone strike as an act of state terrorism and claimed Donald Trump had no respect for international law. |
| The UK has said it wants to keep its troops in Iraq but will pull out if Baghdad demands. The defence secretary, Ben Wallace said: “If they require us to leave, that is their right and we will respect it.” | The UK has said it wants to keep its troops in Iraq but will pull out if Baghdad demands. The defence secretary, Ben Wallace said: “If they require us to leave, that is their right and we will respect it.” |
| Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the supreme national security council, said 13 “revenge scenarios” were being considered by Tehran. Even the weakest option would prove “a historic nightmare for the Americans”, he said. | Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the supreme national security council, said 13 “revenge scenarios” were being considered by Tehran. Even the weakest option would prove “a historic nightmare for the Americans”, he said. |
| Javad Zarif has also been told he will not get a US visa to travel to the United Nations later this week. He accused the US of violating the 1947 UN HQ Agreement. | Javad Zarif has also been told he will not get a US visa to travel to the United Nations later this week. He accused the US of violating the 1947 UN HQ Agreement. |
| Boris Johnson is due to chair a meeting of the UK national security council to discuss the crisis. The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has travelled to Brussels for talks with his European counterparts. | Boris Johnson is due to chair a meeting of the UK national security council to discuss the crisis. The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has travelled to Brussels for talks with his European counterparts. |
| Germany is reducing its troop numbers in Iraq for security reasons after the US killing of Suleimani. It is the first coalition withdrawal since the Iraqi parliament voted on Sunday to call for the withdrawal of US forces from the country. | Germany is reducing its troop numbers in Iraq for security reasons after the US killing of Suleimani. It is the first coalition withdrawal since the Iraqi parliament voted on Sunday to call for the withdrawal of US forces from the country. |
| Downing Street has given an account of a phone call between Boris Johnson and Turkey’s President Erdogan. | Downing Street has given an account of a phone call between Boris Johnson and Turkey’s President Erdogan. |
| In his press conference, Pompeo accused his Iranian counterpart, Javad Zarif, of being a “propagandist” by claiming that Suleimani was travelling to Baghdad on diplomatic mission when he was killed in the US drone strike. | In his press conference, Pompeo accused his Iranian counterpart, Javad Zarif, of being a “propagandist” by claiming that Suleimani was travelling to Baghdad on diplomatic mission when he was killed in the US drone strike. |
| Pompeo said: | Pompeo said: |
| On Trump’s threat to target 52 cultural sites, Pompeo said: “Every action we take will be consistent with the international rule of law.” | On Trump’s threat to target 52 cultural sites, Pompeo said: “Every action we take will be consistent with the international rule of law.” |
| He added: “Let me tell you who’s done damage to Persian culture. It’s not the United States of America. It’s the Ayatollah. The real risk to Persian culture does not come from United States of America. That there is there is no mistake about that. | He added: “Let me tell you who’s done damage to Persian culture. It’s not the United States of America. It’s the Ayatollah. The real risk to Persian culture does not come from United States of America. That there is there is no mistake about that. |
| Asked whether lawyers were consulted about Suleimani’s killing, Pomopeo said: | Asked whether lawyers were consulted about Suleimani’s killing, Pomopeo said: |
| Asked if there will be similar strikes against highranking Iranians, Pompeo said: | Asked if there will be similar strikes against highranking Iranians, Pompeo said: |
| Iran’s Fars News agency now says 56 people killed were killed in the funeral crush in Kerman. It said 35 men and 21 women were killed and 213 people injured. | Iran’s Fars News agency now says 56 people killed were killed in the funeral crush in Kerman. It said 35 men and 21 women were killed and 213 people injured. |
| In the House of Commons in London, Ben Wallace, the UK defence secretary, is giving an oral statement to MPs updating them on the Iran crisis. What he said at the start did not really go beyond what the UK government has already said about the UK killing of Qassem Suleimani (lukewarm endorsement, combined with a call for restraint and de-escalation) and the most lively opening exchanges came when Wallace clashed with Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, who was responding for the opposition. | In the House of Commons in London, Ben Wallace, the UK defence secretary, is giving an oral statement to MPs updating them on the Iran crisis. What he said at the start did not really go beyond what the UK government has already said about the UK killing of Qassem Suleimani (lukewarm endorsement, combined with a call for restraint and de-escalation) and the most lively opening exchanges came when Wallace clashed with Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, who was responding for the opposition. |
| Wallace started by saying the UK would always defend the right of countries to defend themselves. He said the US had in the past shown restraint when its bases in Iraq were under attack, and he said the UK was urging all parties to de-escalate the crisis as soon as possible. | Wallace started by saying the UK would always defend the right of countries to defend themselves. He said the US had in the past shown restraint when its bases in Iraq were under attack, and he said the UK was urging all parties to de-escalate the crisis as soon as possible. |
| Travel advice for Iran and Iraq has been revised, he said. And he said non-essential UK personnel had been moved out of Baghdad. He continued: | Travel advice for Iran and Iraq has been revised, he said. And he said non-essential UK personnel had been moved out of Baghdad. He continued: |
| Wallace said the Iraqi parliament had voted to end the coalition presence in Iraq. But that vote was only one part of the process, he said. The UK government was speaking to the Iraqi government about what this might mean, he said. He said the coalition was only in Iraq at the request of the Iraqi government. | Wallace said the Iraqi parliament had voted to end the coalition presence in Iraq. But that vote was only one part of the process, he said. The UK government was speaking to the Iraqi government about what this might mean, he said. He said the coalition was only in Iraq at the request of the Iraqi government. |
| He said the UK would be urging Iran to take a different path. Its aggressive behaviour, including targeting dissidents in Europe and hijacking civilian ships, was never going to go unchallenged. He continued: | He said the UK would be urging Iran to take a different path. Its aggressive behaviour, including targeting dissidents in Europe and hijacking civilian ships, was never going to go unchallenged. He continued: |
| In response, Corbyn said that Boris Johnson was “hiding behind” his defence secretary and that he should be making the Commons statement himself. He said the “assassination” of Suleimani put British servicemen and women in danger, but Johnson was afraid to say so. Corbyn explained: | In response, Corbyn said that Boris Johnson was “hiding behind” his defence secretary and that he should be making the Commons statement himself. He said the “assassination” of Suleimani put British servicemen and women in danger, but Johnson was afraid to say so. Corbyn explained: |
| Corbyn asked Wallace if he thought the killing of Suleimani was legal. And he criticised the government for saying that the onus was on Iran to de-escalate. If an American general had been killed, the government would not be telling the US to de-escalate, Corbyn said. | Corbyn asked Wallace if he thought the killing of Suleimani was legal. And he criticised the government for saying that the onus was on Iran to de-escalate. If an American general had been killed, the government would not be telling the US to de-escalate, Corbyn said. |
| Responding to Corbyn, Wallace said what he was saying was “usual anti-American tripe”. | Responding to Corbyn, Wallace said what he was saying was “usual anti-American tripe”. |
| On the issue of the legality of the killing, Wallace said that it was for the US to make its case. But Wallace also said it was clear that a legal defence of self-defence could be made in this case relating to Suleimani going to Iraq plotting to murder American citizens. | On the issue of the legality of the killing, Wallace said that it was for the US to make its case. But Wallace also said it was clear that a legal defence of self-defence could be made in this case relating to Suleimani going to Iraq plotting to murder American citizens. |
| There is more coverage of the statement on our UK politics live blog. | There is more coverage of the statement on our UK politics live blog. |
| In his 13-minute exchange with reporters, Pompeo offered no further evidence that Suleimani posed a direct threat to US lives. | In his 13-minute exchange with reporters, Pompeo offered no further evidence that Suleimani posed a direct threat to US lives. |
| This is what he said when challenged about the imminence of the threat the Iranian military commander posed: | This is what he said when challenged about the imminence of the threat the Iranian military commander posed: |
| Q: Would you push back against Trump hitting cultural sites in Iran? | Q: Would you push back against Trump hitting cultural sites in Iran? |
| “Every action we take will be consistent with international law,” Pompeo said. | “Every action we take will be consistent with international law,” Pompeo said. |
| “I know the strike saved American lives, I’m confident about that,” Pompeo said. | “I know the strike saved American lives, I’m confident about that,” Pompeo said. |
| Q: Were lawyers consulted about the attack on Suleimani? | Q: Were lawyers consulted about the attack on Suleimani? |
| We never act without full legal vetting, Pompeo said. He said he was confident this took place before the attack. | We never act without full legal vetting, Pompeo said. He said he was confident this took place before the attack. |
| Pompeo insists Iran will not get a nuclear weapon on “our watch”. The previous administration chose to “underwrite and appease”, we have chosen to confront, Pompeo said. | Pompeo insists Iran will not get a nuclear weapon on “our watch”. The previous administration chose to “underwrite and appease”, we have chosen to confront, Pompeo said. |
| Q: Iran says Suleiman was on a diplomatic mission. | Q: Iran says Suleiman was on a diplomatic mission. |
| Does anyone believe Suleiman was on a peace mission? We know that isn’t true, Pompeo said. This is Iranian propaganda. | Does anyone believe Suleiman was on a peace mission? We know that isn’t true, Pompeo said. This is Iranian propaganda. |
| Q: Why did the US deny a visa to Javad Zarif? | Q: Why did the US deny a visa to Javad Zarif? |
| We can’t comment on visa issues, Pompeo said. | We can’t comment on visa issues, Pompeo said. |
| Q: How imminent was the threat posed by Suleimani? | Q: How imminent was the threat posed by Suleimani? |
| We could see clearly all of Suleimani’s previous “handiwork”. If you are looking imminence look no further than the days leading up to the attack. It was the right decision, Pompeo said. | We could see clearly all of Suleimani’s previous “handiwork”. If you are looking imminence look no further than the days leading up to the attack. It was the right decision, Pompeo said. |
| In his opening remarks, Pompeo says Iran is “actively working to undermine the peace process” in Afghanistan. | In his opening remarks, Pompeo says Iran is “actively working to undermine the peace process” in Afghanistan. |
| You can watch Pompeo’s press conference here: | You can watch Pompeo’s press conference here: |