This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-51043559

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Iran crisis: US 'ready for serious negotiations' with Tehran Iran crisis: US 'ready for serious negotiations' with Tehran
(32 minutes later)
The US says it is "ready to engage without preconditions in serious negotiations" with Iran following the countries' exchange of hostilities.The US says it is "ready to engage without preconditions in serious negotiations" with Iran following the countries' exchange of hostilities.
In a letter to the UN, the US justified its decision to kill top Iran Gen Qasem Soleimani as an act of self-defence.In a letter to the UN, the US justified its decision to kill top Iran Gen Qasem Soleimani as an act of self-defence.
Iran has retaliated by firing missiles at air bases housing US forces in Iraq causing no casualties. It also told the UN it was an act of self-defence.Iran has retaliated by firing missiles at air bases housing US forces in Iraq causing no casualties. It also told the UN it was an act of self-defence.
Gen Soleimani was widely held as being Iran's second most senior official.Gen Soleimani was widely held as being Iran's second most senior official.
As head of the Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force, he was and architect of Iranian policy in the region. As head of the Revolutionary Guards' elite Quds Force, he was an architect of Iranian policy in the region.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described the missile attacks as a "slap in the face" for the US and called for an end to the American presence in the Middle East.Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei described the missile attacks as a "slap in the face" for the US and called for an end to the American presence in the Middle East.
The US strike on Soleimani also killed members of Iran-backed Iraqi militias, who have also vowed revenge.The US strike on Soleimani also killed members of Iran-backed Iraqi militias, who have also vowed revenge.
However, US Vice-President Mike Pence told CBS News that "intelligence" indicated that Iran had asked its allied militias not to attack US targets.However, US Vice-President Mike Pence told CBS News that "intelligence" indicated that Iran had asked its allied militias not to attack US targets.
The US House of Representatives has scheduled a vote for Thursday on limiting President Donald Trump's ability to wage war against Iran without specific approval from Congress.The US House of Representatives has scheduled a vote for Thursday on limiting President Donald Trump's ability to wage war against Iran without specific approval from Congress.
What do the letters say?What do the letters say?
In a letter to the UN Security Council, US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft said the US was ready to negotiate "with the goal of preventing further endangerment of international peace and security or escalation by the Iranian regime".In a letter to the UN Security Council, US Ambassador to the UN Kelly Craft said the US was ready to negotiate "with the goal of preventing further endangerment of international peace and security or escalation by the Iranian regime".
The killing of Soleimani was justified, the letter argued, under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which requires states to "immediately report" to the Security Council any measures taken in exercising the right of self-defence.The killing of Soleimani was justified, the letter argued, under Article 51 of the UN Charter, which requires states to "immediately report" to the Security Council any measures taken in exercising the right of self-defence.
The US would take additional action "as necessary" in the Middle East to protect its personnel and interests, the letter added.The US would take additional action "as necessary" in the Middle East to protect its personnel and interests, the letter added.
Iran also cited Article 51 as justification for its attack on US bases.Iran also cited Article 51 as justification for its attack on US bases.
Iran's UN Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi wrote that Tehran "does not seek escalation or war" after exercising its right to self-defence by taking a "measured and proportionate military response targeting an American air base in Iraq".Iran's UN Ambassador Majid Takht Ravanchi wrote that Tehran "does not seek escalation or war" after exercising its right to self-defence by taking a "measured and proportionate military response targeting an American air base in Iraq".
"The operation was precise and targeted military objectives thus leaving no collateral damage to civilians and civilian assets in the area," he wrote."The operation was precise and targeted military objectives thus leaving no collateral damage to civilians and civilian assets in the area," he wrote.
What did Mr Trump say about the Iranian strikes?What did Mr Trump say about the Iranian strikes?
US President Donald Trump has previously threatened military action against Iran if it were to target US personnel and bases, but he did not announce any military action, saying Iran's attack had caused no casualties.US President Donald Trump has previously threatened military action against Iran if it were to target US personnel and bases, but he did not announce any military action, saying Iran's attack had caused no casualties.
"No Americans were harmed in last night's attack by the Iranian regime," he said."No Americans were harmed in last night's attack by the Iranian regime," he said.
"Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned," he added."Iran appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned," he added.
The US House of Representatives is expected to vote on Thursday on a resolution to force Mr Trump to halt further military action against Iran unless Congress gives it the all-clear.The US House of Representatives is expected to vote on Thursday on a resolution to force Mr Trump to halt further military action against Iran unless Congress gives it the all-clear.
"Members of Congress have serious, urgent concerns about the administration's decision to engage in hostilities against Iran and about its lack of strategy moving forward," Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House, said in a statement."Members of Congress have serious, urgent concerns about the administration's decision to engage in hostilities against Iran and about its lack of strategy moving forward," Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House, said in a statement.
What happened in the missile attacks?What happened in the missile attacks?
A total of 16 missiles were launched from at least three sites in Iran, Defence Secretary Mark Esper said. It was the most direct assault by Iran on the US since the seizing of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979.
At least 11 of them struck the air base in Al Asad, west of Baghdad, and at least one more hit the Irbil base, he said. A total of 16 missiles were launched from at least three sites in Iran at about 02:00 local time on Wednesday (22:30 GMT on Tuesday), Defence Secretary Mark Esper said.
Several other missiles landed at some distance from the targets. At least 11 of them struck the air base in Al Asad, west of Baghdad, and at least one more hit the Irbil base, he said. Several other missiles landed at some distance from the targets.
The attacks happened at about 02:00 local time on Wednesday (22:30 GMT on Tuesday).
US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley said he believed early warning systems had prevented casualties.US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley said he believed early warning systems had prevented casualties.
"[What] I believe, based on what I saw and what I know, is that they were intended to cause structural damage, destroy vehicles and equipment and aircraft, and to kill personnel," he said."[What] I believe, based on what I saw and what I know, is that they were intended to cause structural damage, destroy vehicles and equipment and aircraft, and to kill personnel," he said.
The attacks came just hours after the burial of Soleimani, who controlled Iran's proxy forces across the Middle East.
It was the most direct assault by Iran on the US since the seizing of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979.
How did we get here?How did we get here?
The assassination of Soleimani took place on 3 January. Tensions between Tehran and Washington began rising in 2018 after President Trump pulled the US out of a landmark nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. The accord was intended to curb Iran's nuclear programme and prevent it from getting nuclear weapons.
The general was regarded as a terrorist by the US government, which says he was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American troops and was plotting "imminent" attacks. Mr Trump wanted a new deal that would also curb Iran's ballistic missile programme and its involvement in regional conflicts.
Iran vowed "severe revenge" for his death. Mr Trump, meanwhile, warned the US would respond in the event of retaliation "perhaps in a disproportionate manner". The US also re-imposed sanctions on Iran, sending its economy into freefall.
Millions of Iranians turned out for the commander's funeral, with mourners chanting "death to America" and "death to Trump". Soleimani's assassination on 3 January followed a sharp escalation between the US, Iran and Iran-backed groups in Iraq sparked by the death of a US military contractor in a missile attack on a US base - for which the US held Iran responsible.
A stampede at the burial in Soleimani's hometown Kerman killed 50 people and injured 200 more on Tuesday. The US responded with air strikes against the Iran-backed militia Kataib Hezbollah. Militia supporters then attacked the US embassy in Baghdad.
Soleimani was regarded as a terrorist by the US government, which says he was responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American troops and was plotting "imminent" attacks. The US has not provided evidence of this.
Iran vowed "severe revenge" for his death. Millions of Iranians turned out for the commander's funeral, with mourners chanting "death to America" and "death to Trump".
A stampede at the funeral in Soleimani's hometown, Kerman, killed 50 people and injured 200 more on Tuesday.