Killing Soleimani intended to avert a war, claims US President -

Washington: Iran claims that the killing of Major General Soleimani amounts to a declaration of war against Iran by the United States. Some other countries too echo the opinion. But as per US President Donald Trump, Soleimani was killed not to start, but to avert a war. President Trump justified his actions saying that Soleimani was responsible for bloodshed right from New Delhi to London. US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo also emphasised that the US decision regarding Soleimani was appropriate.

Thousands of people have swarmed the streets to protest the killing of Soleimani, shouting slogans to destroy the United States and Israel. Major General Ismail Ghani, the new head of the Quds Force has threatened that soon the dead bodies of the US soldiers will be scattered in the entire Middle East. Iranian Ambassador to the United Nations, Majid Takht Ravanchi, said that Iran had the right to retaliate against the killing of Major General Qassem Soleimani.

Given the violent reactions received from Iran, Iran might soon plan drastic action that would rock the United States, claim analysts. However, if Iran attacks, then even the United States would retaliate for sure, triggering a war in the Middle East, is the concern expressed by analysts. Also, leading countries in the world have expressed concern that war sparked in this region which has maximum oil exports would be unaffordable. The irresponsible decision taken by the US President is being held responsible for the situation. The European countries, along with Russia too blame the US President for the dangerous circumstances. Even the opposition party members in the United States are criticising the US President accusing him of starting a war with Iran.

It was against this background that President Trump clarified that the decision to kill Soleimani was taken in order to avert a war and not to start a war. President Trump justified his decision saying ‘Qassem Soleimani is responsible for the bloodshed of innocent people, from New Delhi to London. He was the chief conspirator of many terror attacks. In the memory of those who were victims of attacks carried out by Soleimani, it is comforting to know that his terrorism has ended.’

US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, endorsed President Trump’s decision. Secretary of State Pompeo said, ‘Soleimani was planning a major terrorist attack and hundreds of US citizens would have been killed in the attack. Therefore, we decided to grab the opportunity to eliminate Soleimani as soon as it availed, and we succeeded in that. It is reassuring to know that henceforth, Soleimani will not be able to carry out such actions.’

Pompeo also emphasised that by killing Soleimani, the United States has protected not only itself, but also the European countries.

US National Security Adviser, Robert o’brien, reminded that nearly 600 US citizens lost their lives in Iraq because of Qassem Soleimani. Meanwhile, the US President seems to have drawn India into the controversy, accusing Soleimani of bloodshed from New Delhi to London. It had been accused that there was an Iranian involvement in the bomb blast in Delhi in 2012. But there was no evidence to prove this accusation. But Israel and the United States had claimed that it was indeed Iran who was involved in the Delhi bomb blast. Thus, the US President seems to be referring to this blast.

However, the Indian Foreign Ministry has not reacted to the statement of the US President. India had given its reaction saying that following the killing of Soleimani, all the countries should exhibit restraint to maintain peace, stability and security in the Middle East.