Boris Johnson said there was 'no reason' for the UK to be 'notified' over Qasem Soleimani killing

Jacob Jarvis14 January 2020
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Boris Johnson has said there was "no reason" for the UK to be "notified" over the US killing of General Qasem Soleimani.

The Prime Minister was not warned about the US airstrike in Iraq that killed a top Iranian general, prompting a major rise in tensions in the Middle East.

Critics described President Donald Trump's failure to inform the PM ahead of the mission as a major blow for relations between the UK and the US.

In his first major interview since the general election, Mr Johnson sought to play down the lack of communication over the issue despite having been blindsided by the news while on holiday.

Boris Johnson has denied Donald Trump not informing him of the airstrike was an issue (REUTERS)
Reuters

He said: "This was not our operation. There was no reason for us to be involved.

"It was perfectly right for it to go ahead as it did."

Mr Johnson, who came under fire for failing to return from his Caribbean holiday when the killing took place, also defended his response to the incident and said he worked "very hard" to ensure there was a European response.

After the killing took place, Mr Johnson was accused by Labour's Emily Thornberry of "sunning himself and drinking vodka martinis", instead of dealing with the crisis.

He did not comment on the situation for several days, with his silence described as "deafening".

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also asked Mr Johnson to confirm what the UK was told before the airstrike.

Aerial images of Iran missile strike

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Mr Johnson has since called for the deescalation of tensions, and upped calls for this after Iran made retaliatory strikes on bases occupied by UK and US troops.

Speaking to the BBC today, Mr Johnson said the UK played the "traditional role" of serving as "the bridge between the European powers and the United States."

“I was not in this country but I worked very hard, as you can imagine, in making sure there was a European response,” he told the BBC.

Iran: Tehran Plane Crash - In pictures

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On the nuclear deal, he added: "If we're going to replace it, [the JCPOA] let's replace it with a Trump deal.

"President Trump is a great deal maker. Somehow or another we've got to stop Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon."

On the shooting down of a passenger plane over Iran, which the nation's government claim was accidental amid the heightened tensions, Mr Johnson said: “I’m glad the Iranians have accepted responsibility and identified it as an appalling mistake and it does appear that it was a mistake.

“It is very important that the bodies are repatriated in a dignified way and that the families are allowed to grieve and to have closure.

“Clearly, as President Rouhani has said, Iran made a terrible mistake. It is good they have apologised. The most important thing now is that tensions in the region calm down.”

Overall, he called for tensions to be ratcheted down between in the Middle East.

"I don't want a military conflict," he added.

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