In a phone call that spanned over one hour, President Rouhani of Iran and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron discussed the sensitive situation of the region in the aftermath of the U.S. drone strike that killed top Iranian Commander, General Qassem Soleimani, head of ‘Quds’ Force, and Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, Deputy Chief of Iran’s PMF (Popular Mobilization Forces).
According to the Head of the Iranian President’s Office for Communications, Alireza Moezzi, the topics discussed were the recent developments in the region, the JCPOA and the ‘fifth nuclear step’.
President Rouhani told his French counterpart that “by assassinating Lieutenant General Soleimani, the Americans committed a big strategic mistake, and it cannot escape the consequences of this great crime.”
“The United States must know its interests and security in the region are in danger and that it cannot escape the consequences of this great crime,” he said in an hour-long telephone call with Macron, quoted in a statement by the Iranian presidency.
The Iranian president added that the killing might have the opposite effect of what the US had expected
Friday’s killing of General Qasem Soleimani in a US drone strike in Baghdad on the orders of President Donald Trump ratcheted up tensions between the arch-foes.
Rouhani in phone call w/ Macron now:
"If agreements with Europe are finalized, we are ready to return to our JCPOA commitments. Meetings b/w #Iran & P5+1 (i.e. multilateral talks w/ US) only possible when sanctions are removed." https://t.co/YUKiAjfqwM
— Sina Toossi (@SinaToossi) September 11, 2019
Iran vowed “severe revenge” before Trump warned that Washington had lined up 52 targets if Tehran attacked American personnel or assets.
Rouhani said the Americans had “committed a major strategic error in assassinating General Soleimani”, head of the Revolutionary Guards’ foreign operations arm.
Read more: Qasem Soleimani: Is US operating under Law of Jungle?
Macron says he warned Iran's Rouhani about breaking nuclear commitments https://t.co/z7aIeIWu45
— Reuters Iran (@ReutersIran) June 27, 2019
The Iranian president added that the killing might have the opposite effect of what the US had expected.
“This crime has strengthened as never before the unity and solidarity of the Iranian people, and also that of the Iraqi people,” he told Macron.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran never seeks war and insecurity in the region, but it does not hesitate to defend its rights and sovereignty,” he said.
#Washington always disrespects its political, legal, moral commitments: #Rouhanihttps://t.co/PHZUQydywp
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) January 5, 2020
AFP with additional input by GVS News Desk.