Live updates: US-Iran tensions after Qassem Soleimani's killing
Live Updates
World oil prices jumped after the US killed a top Iranian general, fanning fresh fears of conflict in the crude-rich Middle East, with Tehran warning of "severe" retaliation.
While global stock markets were mixed following the US killing of Qasem Soleimani, oil prices jumped more than three percent late Friday, AFP reported.
In a phone call with Iraqi President Barham Salih on Saturday, Saudi Arabia's King Salman called for reducing tensions in the region after the assassination of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, the kingdom's official news agency SPA reported.
"The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques confirmed the Kingdom's keenness on the security and stability of Iraq and the importance of staying calm and defusing the crisis in the region, in addition to taking all measures to reduce tension," the Saudi statement said.
On Friday, Riyadh called for "self-restraint" and warned of the "threats posed by terrorist militias".
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in light of the rapid developments, calls for the importance of self-restraint to ward off all acts that may lead to aggravating the situation, with unbearable consequences," SPA cited an "official source" as saying.
Iran-backed Iraqi paramilitary group Kataib Hezbollah (KH) warned Iraqi security forces to stay away from American troops across the country, Lebanon-based Al Mayadeen reported.
KH, a Popular Mobilisation Unite (PMU) faction that the United States blames for a rocket attack that killed an American contractor in Kirkuk last week, said Iraqi forces should remain at least 1,000 metres away from US forces starting Sunday evening.
The KH-linked rocket strike in Kirkuk had set the motion for a chain of events culminating in the assassination of Iran's top general Qassem Soleimani and the deputy head of the PMU Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis.
Hundreds of protesters gathered in New York City's Time Square late on Friday to reject war with Iran following the assassinaiton of Soleimani.
Earlier on Friday, Donald Trump had stressed the assassination was defensive. "We took action last night to stop a war. We did not take action to start a war," he said.
But with the US military deploying additional troops to the region and Iran pledging to avenge the death of its top general, anti-war activists are starting to rally against a possible military conflict between Washington and Tehran.
On Saturday evening, a rocket fell inside Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone near the US Embassy, another hit the nearby Jadriya neighbourhood and two more rockets were fired at the Balad air base north of the city, but no one was killed, the Iraqi military said in a statement. There was no immediate claim of responsibility, according to Reuters.
Following the assassination of Soleimani, the US Men's National Soccer Team cancelled a previously planned training camp in Qatar, citing the "developing situation in the region".
In a statement released on Friday, the team, which missed out on the 2018 World Cup in Russia, did not rule out travelling to Qatar in the future.
"We are working with the Qatar Football Association to find an opportunity in the near future for our team to experience Qatar's world-class facilities and hospitality."
While calling Soleimani "the worst" of Iran's "malevolent evildoers", Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, a vocal critic of Trump's foreign policy, said the killing leaders of foreign countries would "normalise assassinations".
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif hosted his Qatari counterpart in Tehran, where they discussed the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Zarif and Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani discussed "the new situation in Iraq and the assassination of General haj Qasem Soleimani" as well as regional and international issues, Iran's foreign ministry said in a statement.
Thani called for de-escalation and a peaceful solution to the crisis, according to Iran’s foreign ministry.
"Iran does not want tension in the region, and it is the presence and interference of foreign forces that cause instability, insecurity and increased tension in our sensitive region," Zarif said during the meeting.
A red flag has been hoisted atop of the Jamkaran Mosque, in the Iranian holy city of Qom, to symbolise a battle to come, according to tradition.
The flag reads “O’ the avengers of Hussein”, in reference to Prophet Mohammad’s grandson Hussein, one of the most revered figures for Shias, who was killed in battle in the Iraqi city of Karbala in the 7th century. Shias believe Hussein fought and sacrificed his life for justice.
As the centre of theology and the base of many religious authorities, the city of Qom holds a political and religious importance in Iran.
Leaders of the Iran-backed Hamas movement and of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad faction joined hundreds of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip to mourn Soleimani’s death.
Mourners gathered at a tent erected in Soleimani's honour in the heart of Gaza City.
"We are loyal to those who stood with the resistance and with Palestine and we hold the US administration and the Zionist occupation fully responsible for the consequences of this deplorable crime," said Ismail Radwan, a Hamas official, according to Reuters news agency.
American and Israeli flags were later set on fire.
NATO said it has suspended training of Iraqi security and armed forces and is monitoring the situation in the region very closely following the assassination of Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander Qassem Soleimani.
"The safety of our personnel in Iraq is paramount," acting NATO spokesman Dylan White said in a statement.
"We continue to take all precautions necessary. NATO's mission is continuing, but training activities are temporarily suspended."
For more on people’s reactions to the assassination in Tehran, click here.
Senior commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) Gholamli Abuhamzeh said Tehran will punish Americans wherever they are within reach, adding that vital US targets in the region have long been identified.
The general said Iran reserved the right to avenge the death of top IRGC commander Qassem Soleimani who was killed in a US air strike on Friday, and raised the prospect of possible attacks on ships in the Gulf.
“The Strait of Hormuz is a vital point for the West and a large number of American destroyers and warships cross there ... vital American targets in the region have been identified by Iran since long time ago ... some 35 U.S. targets in the region as well as Tel Aviv are within our reach," Abuhamzeh said.
To read more on Soleimani's final hours, click here.
Tens of thousands of mourners gathered in Baghdad for the funeral procession for Iran's powerful Revolutionary Guard commander Qassem Soleimani, Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis and eight others killed in a US air strike in Iraq on Friday.
Among the dignitaries who attended the procession were Iraq’s Prime Minister Adel Abdel Mahdi, Muhandis associate Hadi al-Ameri, Shiite cleric Ammar al-Hakim, former premier Nouri al-Maliki.
Iran, Iraq and the Middle East are on high alert following the assassination of top Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia commander Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis on Friday morning.
As tensions rise, Britain has advised its nationals to avoid travel to Iraq, outside the Kurdistan region, and to avoid all but essential travel to Iran.
"Given heightened tensions in the region, the Foreign Office now advise people not to travel to Iraq, with the exception of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and to consider carefully whether it's essential to travel to Iran," Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said in a statement.
"We will keep this under review."
Two US Democratic lawmakers, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders and California Congressman Ro Khanna, announced they will introduce legislation to block any military funding used to attack Iran.
The bill they plan to introduce is the same amendment to the National Defence Authorisation Act that passed in the House of Representatives last year; it would have prohibited funds in 2020 Pentagon budget from being used to strike Iran without congressional approval.
The provision was then later taken out of the bill.
"War must be the last recourse in our international relations. That is why our Founding Fathers gave the responsibility over war to Congress," the lawmakers said in a statement.
"Congressional inaction in the face of the threat of a catastrophic and unconstitutional Middle East conflict is not acceptable."
