‘Russian President Vladimir Putin has said the killing of an Iranian general in a US drone strike risked ‘aggravating the situation’ in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump ordered the strike on Baghdad International Airport that killed Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, the deputy commander of Iran-backed militias in Iraq.
‘This action can seriously aggravate the situation in the region,’ the Kremlin quoted Putin as saying during a telephone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.
His comments came after China and Russia joined European countries and nations across the world in urging ‘restraint’.
But Iran branded the strike an act of ‘international terrorism’ and the country’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed ‘harsh revenge’.
Moscow warned Soleimani’s death would boost tensions across the Middle East and China urged restraint from all sides, ‘especially the United States’.
Britain, France and Germany called for ‘stability’ and ‘calm’ in the region, but did not vilify the assassination.
European shares slipped from near record highs and oil prices rose over $2 (£1.50) a barrel as the markets reacted to ratcheted up tensions – and US stocks fell about 1 per cent at the open today.’
