Middle East on the brink: US' 'act of terrorism' was 'rogue adventurism' – Iran to Trump

Mr Zarif issued a statement in which he accused the US President of recklessly escalating tensions in the region. He said: “The US’ act of international terrorism, targeting and assassinating General Soleimani—THE most effective force fighting Daesh (ISIS), Al Nusrah, Al Qaeda et al—is extremely dangerous and a foolish escalation. The US bears responsibility for all consequences of its rogue adventurism.”

Major-General Qasem Soleimani. who headed up the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, was killed on Thursday night when the vehicle he was travelling in at Baghdad airport was hit buy US missiles.

Iranian media said that the general had travelled to Baghdad from Beirut.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards have also threatened violent retaliation against the United States in response to Soleimani’s death.

Iran has called an emergency meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the US killing of Qasem Soleimani.

Experts are afraid that Iran will see this assassination as an act of war, that could lead to a proxy war between the US and Iran.

Trump has come under criticism from some US politicians for his decision to sanction the attack on Soleimani.

Democratic Presidential hopeful Joe Biden said in a statement:“The Administration’s statement says that its goal is to deter future attacks by Iran, but this action will almost certainly have the opposite effect.

“President Trump just tossed a stick of dynamite into a tinderbox.

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