Qasem Soleimani: Corbyn urges Johnson to hold Privy Council meeting

Qasem Soleimani – Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has called for an urgent meeting of the Privy Council over the US killing of a top Iranian general in Iraq.

In a letter to Boris Johnson, Mr Corbyn said the council – the historic group that advises monarchs – must meet and discuss the airstrike’s consequences.

BBC News understands the prime minister was not warned about Friday’s airstrike in which Qasem Soleimani was killed.

It comes as the US has pledged to send 3,000 extra troops as a precaution.

The UK has 400 troops based in the Middle East and works alongside US forces in the region.

The killing of Gen Soleimani marks a major escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.

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Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said “severe revenge awaits the criminals” behind the attack, but a statement from the Pentagon said Gen Soleimani “was actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region”.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab has urged for a calming of tensions, adding: “Further conflict is in none of our interests.”

Writing to the prime minister, Mr Corbyn asked several questions including what the UK was told before the airstrike and what the government was doing to ensure the safety of UK nationals.

And he asked whether, if it had been informed in advance, the government had expressed its opposition to the attack.

“Given the serious nature of the issues now faced by our country and indeed the world as a consequence of the US attack, I would welcome a prompt response to this request and stand ready to attend any briefing meeting as soon as arranged,” he said.

Source – https://www.bbc.co.uk/