The Iraqi parliament at an emergency meeting voted to end the foreign military presence in the country, RIA Novosti reported. The corresponding recommendation to parliament was made by the acting Prime Minister of the country Adel Abd al-Mahdi.
According to the results of the vote, the government should take measures to terminate any foreign military presence and ensure a ban on the use of the country's airspace for military purposes. In addition, it was decided to stop cooperation with the forces of the Islamic State’s international coalition against terrorists. The adopted decision entered into force immediately after the vote.
Earlier, the Iraqi Foreign Ministry handed over a note of protest to the US ambassador in Baghdad, Matthew Teller, in connection with the American attacks in the republic, which the department called a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the republic and all international norms and laws.
In addition, Adel Abd al-Mahdi stated that the United States notified the Iraqi government of the attack on Iranian General Kassem Suleimani several minutes before it was inflicted, but Baghdad did not give permission for the operation.
Recall, on the night of January 3, as a result of a US special operation in the vicinity of Baghdad airport, Kassem Suleimani, the General of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was killed. The Pentagon stated that the attack was ordered by President Donald Trump, since, according to the American side, the general allegedly was related to anti-American protests in Baghdad, during which riots broke out and the United States embassy was damaged. In addition, the Pentagon said that Suleimani was allegedly responsible for attacks on the US military and diplomats in Iraq.
Iran’s top leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the president of the Islamic Republic, Hassan Rouhani, denied the allegations and promised a tough response to the assassination of the general. According to CNN, Khamenei’s military adviser, Hossein Dehgan, said Iran would strike back at US military facilities.
The international community, in turn, called on Tehran and Washington to avoid escalating the conflict.
In connection with the aggravation of the situation in the Middle East after the death of Suleimani, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced the holding of an urgent meeting of the North Atlantic Council on Monday, January 6. The meeting, which will focus on the situation in Iraq, is scheduled for 15:00 (17:00 Moscow time).
The authorities and the population of Iraq began to express sharp dissatisfaction with what the Americans are doing on the territory of their country, said Yuri Pochta, professor of comparative political science at the RUDN University, in an interview with RT.
“An official representative of a neighboring country was killed right on the territory of Iraq. This, of course, is a very serious challenge. Another thing is that the Americans do not ask permission. They justify this with the fact that since 2001 they have been fighting against international terrorism and supposedly have the right to strike at any time, anywhere, against any possible enemy that threatens US security, ”he said.
The political scientist added that what happened will weaken the fight against militants, since it requires coordination of efforts and data exchange.
- Protests in Iran
- Reuters
- © Nazanin Tabatabaee / WANA
In turn, an expert at the Center for Security Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences Konstantin Blokhin, in a conversation with RT, doubted that the United States would easily agree to withdraw its troops from Iraq.
“Iraq is a treasury of natural resources, primarily oil ... And I don’t think that the Americans will want to leave quickly ... Iraq is too big a jackpot to leave so easily. But you need to understand that the USA will have to take risks, they must be prepared to face Iran there, ”he said.
Earlier, the Iranian Foreign Ministry called on the Ambassador of Switzerland in Tehran, Markus Leitner (the country represents the interests of the United States in Iran. - RT ) after threats by US leader Donald Trump to strike at 52 Iranian targets, including cultural ones. This was reported by the press service of the foreign ministry of the republic.
"The Iranian Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, Abbas Arakchi, expressed strong protest against the unacceptable threats that violate international law," the Foreign Ministry said.
The ministry noted that Iran is ready to respond to any actions against national security and the territorial integrity of the state, and also called threats against Iran’s cultural objects a war crime.
Recall that earlier, Trump threatened to strike in Iran if Tehran makes any attack against the United States in response to the assassination of General Kassem Suleimani by the American side near Baghdad.
In turn, the official representative of the Iranian Foreign Ministry Abbas Mousavi said that Tehran appealed to the UN Security Council in connection with the situation surrounding the death of Suleymani.
He explained that Tehran does not seek war with the United States, but is ready for any situation. In addition, Mousavi said that Tehran, after the death of Suleymani, did not refuse to negotiate a nuclear deal with Washington, but the United States would respond first.
The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, expressed deep concern about what happened. He invited Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to visit Brussels to discuss the situation.
* “Islamic State” (IG) - the organization was recognized as terrorist by decision of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation of December 29, 2014.