Iran summons UK ambassador over remarks on Soleimani

By Muhammet Kursun

TEHRAN (AA) - Iran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned British ambassador to Tehran over recent remarks by U.K. officials over the death of Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani.

The ministry summoned Rob Macaire and "informed him of its protest and condemnation of statements made by some British officials about the killing of Soleimani."

On Sunday, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Soleimani played a “leading role” in actions that led to the “deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and western personnel. We will not lament his death."

Also, British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab on Sunday commented on Soleimani's death as saying: "Let’s be very clear: He was a regional menace, and we understand the position that the Americans found themselves in, and they have a right to exercise self-defense."

Soleimani, the head of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps’ elite Quds Force, was killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq on Friday.

His death marked a dramatic escalation in tensions between the U.S. and Iran, which rose in 2018 after U.S. President Donald Trump chose to unilaterally withdraw Washington from a 2015 nuclear pact world powers struck with Tehran.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who last year gave Soleimani the country's highest honor, vowed "severe retaliation" in response to his killing.

The Pentagon accused Soleimani of plotting an earlier embassy attack in Iraq and planning to carry out attacks on U.S. diplomats and service members in Iraq and the region.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat