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| Iran raises death toll from Suleimani funeral crush to 40 - latest updates | Iran raises death toll from Suleimani funeral crush to 40 - latest updates |
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| 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 |
| Germany’s minister for EU affairs, Heiko Maas, said Europe could not “shrug its shoulders” at Iran’s decision to breach the terms of the nuclear agreement in a sign of the parlous state of relations. | |
| He said: “We still believe that this is an important agreement that will prevent Iran from coming into possession of a nuclear bomb.”But we will not be able to take note of announcements with a shrug of our shoulders that the commitments in Tehran will no longer be met.” | |
| Maas was speaking ahead of a meeting in Brussels with his French and British counterparts, including the foreign secretary Dominic Raab. | |
| The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has arrived in Damascus for talks with Syria’s president, Bashar al-Assad, according to Syrian state media and Russia’s Ifax. | |
| The foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has repeated his call for a diplomatic solution to the crisis as he headed to Brussels for talks with his German and French counterparts. | |
| Nikki Haley, a former US ambassador to the United Nations and in many eyes a future Republican presidential candidate, has claimed the only people “mourning the loss” of Suleimani are the “Democrat leadership and our Democrat presidential candidates”. | |
| “You don’t see anyone standing up for Iran,” Haley told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday night. “You’re not hearing any of the Gulf [states], you’re not hearing China, you’re not hearing Russia. The only ones that are mourning the loss of Suleimani are Democrat leadership and our Democrat presidential candidates.” | “You don’t see anyone standing up for Iran,” Haley told Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday night. “You’re not hearing any of the Gulf [states], you’re not hearing China, you’re not hearing Russia. The only ones that are mourning the loss of Suleimani are Democrat leadership and our Democrat presidential candidates.” |
| Downing Street has said force protection measures for British troops in the region were kept under “constant review”. | |
| “The safety and security of our personnel is of paramount importance. We keep our force protection measures under constant review,” the prime minister’s official spokesman said. | “The safety and security of our personnel is of paramount importance. We keep our force protection measures under constant review,” the prime minister’s official spokesman said. |
| Asked why the defence secretary, Ben Wallace, rather than Boris Johnson would be making a statement on the situation in the Commons, the spokesman said: “The PM leads a cabinet government and the response to events in the Middle East is a collective cabinet response. | |
| “The prime minister continues to speak to world leaders. He has overseen the ministerial response and will chair the national security council later today.” | |
| 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. Emergency officials told state TV that 40 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. Emergency officials told state TV that 40 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. |
| Javad Zarif insists that Iran respects international law, unlike Donald Trump. | Javad Zarif insists that Iran respects international law, unlike Donald Trump. |
| CNN has broadcast more of its interview with the Iranian foreign secretary. In it he explained that Iran’s response to the killing of Suleimani will be proportionate because it abides by international law. | CNN has broadcast more of its interview with the Iranian foreign secretary. In it he explained that Iran’s response to the killing of Suleimani will be proportionate because it abides by international law. |
| Speaking about Friday’s drone strike in Baghdad, Javad Zarif said: | Speaking about Friday’s drone strike in Baghdad, Javad Zarif said: |
| He added: | He added: |
| Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has been told he will not get a US visa to travel to the United Nations later this week, AP reports | Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has been told he will not get a US visa to travel to the United Nations later this week, AP reports |
| Javad Zarif told CBS This Morning, that the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, informed the UN secretary general, who in turn relayed to Zarif, that they did not have time to review my request. | Javad Zarif told CBS This Morning, that the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, informed the UN secretary general, who in turn relayed to Zarif, that they did not have time to review my request. |
| It’s not clear that Zarif’s request has been formally rejected, which would trigger legal technicalities that could affect future visa applications. | It’s not clear that Zarif’s request has been formally rejected, which would trigger legal technicalities that could affect future visa applications. |
| A US official said the visa application had not been processed but declined to comment on whether it had been formally denied. The State Department cited visa confidentiality laws that bar the release of such information with certain limited exceptions. | A US official said the visa application had not been processed but declined to comment on whether it had been formally denied. The State Department cited visa confidentiality laws that bar the release of such information with certain limited exceptions. |
| Zarif had applied for the visa in order to speak to a UN Security Council session Thursday about the importance of upholding the UN charter. | Zarif had applied for the visa in order to speak to a UN Security Council session Thursday about the importance of upholding the UN charter. |
| Under its obligations as the host country of the UN headquarters, the US is required in most circumstances to issue visas to foreign officials for meetings at the world body. However, there are exceptions and the US has severely restricted the movements of Iranian diplomats in New York in the past. | Under its obligations as the host country of the UN headquarters, the US is required in most circumstances to issue visas to foreign officials for meetings at the world body. However, there are exceptions and the US has severely restricted the movements of Iranian diplomats in New York in the past. |
| Suleimani’s planned burial in his home town of Kerman has been postponed due to the size of the crowd, after 40 mourners were killed in the crush, according to state media. | Suleimani’s planned burial in his home town of Kerman has been postponed due to the size of the crowd, after 40 mourners were killed in the crush, according to state media. |
| Fars News Agency said the revised timing for Suleimani’s burial will be announced shortly. | Fars News Agency said the revised timing for Suleimani’s burial will be announced shortly. |
| The death toll in the crush at Suleimani’s burial has risen to 40, according to the state-backed Fars News agency. | The death toll in the crush at Suleimani’s burial has risen to 40, according to the state-backed Fars News agency. |
| Fars cited Iran’s head of emergency services, Pirhossein Kolivand, for the revised figure. It also said 213 people were injured in the incident. | Fars cited Iran’s head of emergency services, Pirhossein Kolivand, for the revised figure. It also said 213 people were injured in the incident. |
| The killing of Suleimani by the US was an act of state terrorism and Iran will respond proportionately, the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has told CNN. | The killing of Suleimani by the US was an act of state terrorism and Iran will respond proportionately, the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has told CNN. |
| He said: “This is an act of aggression against Iran, and it amounts to an armed attack against Iran, and we will respond. But we will respond proportionately.” | He said: “This is an act of aggression against Iran, and it amounts to an armed attack against Iran, and we will respond. But we will respond proportionately.” |
| Zarif also said Donald Trump was threatening an international war crime by pledging to attack cultural sites if Iran retaliates against Suleimani’s killing. | Zarif also said Donald Trump was threatening an international war crime by pledging to attack cultural sites if Iran retaliates against Suleimani’s killing. |
| Fars new agency has released helicopter footage showing the huge crowds that have gathered for Suleimani’s burial in his home town of Kerman. | Fars new agency has released helicopter footage showing the huge crowds that have gathered for Suleimani’s burial in his home town of Kerman. |
| Iran’s state media have revised down the casualty figures from the funeral crush to 32 and 190 injured. | Iran’s state media have revised down the casualty figures from the funeral crush to 32 and 190 injured. |
| Fars News agency cited Iran’s head of emergency services, Pirhossein Kolivand, for the revised figure. | Fars News agency cited Iran’s head of emergency services, Pirhossein Kolivand, for the revised figure. |
| Germany is reducing its troop numbers in Iraq for security reasons after the US killing of Suleimani. | 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. The non-binding resolution has prompted a chaotic response from US officials. | It is the first coalition withdrawal since the Iraqi parliament voted on Sunday to call for the withdrawal of US forces from the country. The non-binding resolution has prompted a chaotic response from US officials. |
| The German decision – set out in a letter from the defence minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, and the foreign minister, Heiko Maas, to the German parliament – underlines the extent to which the assassination may have weakened the years-long efforts of the coalition forces to fight Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Nato has already announced that all training of Iraqi forces has been suspended. | The German decision – set out in a letter from the defence minister, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, and the foreign minister, Heiko Maas, to the German parliament – underlines the extent to which the assassination may have weakened the years-long efforts of the coalition forces to fight Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Nato has already announced that all training of Iraqi forces has been suspended. |
| A senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering 13 scenarios to avenge Suleimani’s killing, according to the state-backed Fars news agency. | A senior Iranian official said Tehran was considering 13 scenarios to avenge Suleimani’s killing, according to the state-backed Fars news agency. |
| “We will take revenge, a hard and definitive revenge,” the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Gen Hossein Salami, told mourners in Kerman. | “We will take revenge, a hard and definitive revenge,” the head of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Gen Hossein Salami, told mourners in Kerman. |
| Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and military commanders have said Iranian retaliation for the US action on Friday would match the scale of Soleimani’s killing but that it would be at a time and place of Tehran’s choosing. | Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and military commanders have said Iranian retaliation for the US action on Friday would match the scale of Soleimani’s killing but that it would be at a time and place of Tehran’s choosing. |
| Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of the supreme national security council, said 13 “revenge scenarios” were being considered, Fars news agency reported. 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, Fars news agency reported. Even the weakest option would prove “a historic nightmare for the Americans”, he said. |
| Trump has threatened strikes on 52 Iranian targets, including cultural sites, if Iran retaliates. | Trump has threatened strikes on 52 Iranian targets, including cultural sites, if Iran retaliates. |
| Boris Johnson is to chair a meeting of the national security council and the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, is to travel to Brussels for talks with his European counterpart, PA Media reports. | Boris Johnson is to chair a meeting of the national security council and the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, is to travel to Brussels for talks with his European counterpart, PA Media reports. |
| Welcome to live coverage of the continuing aftermath from the US killing of Qassem Suleimani amid reports of a deadly crush at his funeral procession. | Welcome to live coverage of the continuing aftermath from the US killing of Qassem Suleimani amid reports of a deadly crush at his funeral procession. |
| According to an initial state TV report, 35 people were killed in the incident at Kerman, Suleimani’s home town, where his burial is taking place. | According to an initial state TV report, 35 people were killed in the incident at Kerman, Suleimani’s home town, where his burial is taking place. |
| Videos posted online showed people lying lifeless on a road, with others shouting and trying to help them. The crush was reported to have started when the burial procession got under way. | Videos posted online showed people lying lifeless on a road, with others shouting and trying to help them. The crush was reported to have started when the burial procession got under way. |
| Iranian TV gave the casualty toll in its online report, without saying where it obtained the information. | Iranian TV gave the casualty toll in its online report, without saying where it obtained the information. |
| Pirhossein Koulivand, the head of Iran’s emergency medical services, earlier spoke by telephone to state TV and confirmed the incident took place. | Pirhossein Koulivand, the head of Iran’s emergency medical services, earlier spoke by telephone to state TV and confirmed the incident took place. |
| “Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions,” he said. | “Unfortunately as a result of the stampede, some of our compatriots have been injured and some have been killed during the funeral processions,” he said. |
| A procession in Tehran on Monday drew more than 1 million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main thoroughfares and side streets in Tehran. | A procession in Tehran on Monday drew more than 1 million people in the Iranian capital, crowding both main thoroughfares and side streets in Tehran. |