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British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab, commenting on the death of General Soleimani, said on Sky News that the United States "has the right to defend itself" in London on January 5, 2020. REUTERS / Simon Dawson

After the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on Friday in an American raid in Baghdad, the United Kingdom and France are lining up behind the United States while calling for the easing and de-escalation of tensions.

The British Prime Minister, on vacation in the Caribbean until yesterday, spoke for the first time on this issue to give his support to his American ally, reports our correspondent in London, Aude Soufi.

" We will not mourn the death of Qassem Soleimani, " said Boris Johnson last night, emphasizing the threat posed by the Iranian general. “ General Qassem Soleimani posed a threat to our interests. (...) Given the prominent role he played in the actions that resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians and Western personnel, we will not regret his death, "said the Prime Minister in a communicated.

His Minister of Foreign Affairs Dominic Raab goes even further by invoking the “ self-defense ” of the United States and the “ right ” of Donald Trump to carry out such an attack.

A change of tone then the American secretary of state Mike Pompeo had reproached two days ago to the European allies - German, French and British - their lack of solidarity. London now clearly supports Washington while advocating for a de-escalation of tensions and a stabilization of the situation. A wishful thinking. Donald Trump said again this Sunday that the United States would respond quickly and fully, and perhaps " disproportionately " if attacked by an American target.

The head of British diplomacy will meet his counterpart across the Atlantic on Thursday. In the meantime, the Royal Navy is going to escort the commercial vessels flying the British flag in the Strait of Hormuz and the Foreign Office advises its nationals not to go to Iraq and Iran.

Macron assures Trump of his " full " solidarity with the allies

French President Emmanuel Macron has assured his American counterpart Donald Trump of " its full solidarity with the allies " and called on Iran to refrain from any " military escalation likely to further aggravate regional instability ", according to a press release from the French presidency.

" Faced with rising tensions in Iraq and the region ", the French president also " expressed his concern about the destabilizing activities of the Al Quds force under the authority of General Qassem Soleimani ", killed on Friday January 3 by the states - United, and " recalled the need for Iran to put an end to it now ".

During a telephone interview with President Donald Trump, President @EmmanuelMacron expressed France's determination to work alongside its regional and international partners to ease tensions.https: //t.co/Qp3D0ujB0h

Élysée (@Elysee) January 5, 2020

Merkel, Macron and Johnson agree to work to " reduce tensions "

For her part, German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks with the French President and the British Prime Minister. " The Chancellor, the French President and the British Prime Minister have agreed to work together to reduce tensions in the region, " said the spokesman for the German government. The three leaders " agree that de-escalation is now urgent, " added the spokesman. " Iran in particular is urged to exercise restraint in the current circumstances ," he said.