Dubai:
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif urged U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday not to be “trapped” by an alleged Israeli strategy to provoke a war via attacks on U.S. forces in Iraq.
He issued the warning on the anniversary of the U.S. killing of top rated Iranian basic Qassem Soleimani by a drone strike in Iraq. There was no instant comment by Israel.
Washington blames Iran-backed militia for standard rocket attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq, like close to the U.S. embassy. No identified Iran-backed groups have claimed duty.
“New intelligence from Iraq indicate(s) that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americans – putting an outgoing Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli (act justifying war),” Zarif stated in a tweet.
“Be careful of a trap, @realDonaldTrump. Any fireworks will backfire badly,” Zarif wrote.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace and the Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment on Zarif’s remarks.
The White House did not right away respond to a request for comment on Zarif’s message.
Esmail Ghaani, who succeeded Soleimani as head the elite Quds force, stated on Friday Iran was nonetheless prepared to respond.
The U.S. military flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Middle East in a message of deterrence to Iran on Wednesday, but the bombers have due to the fact left the area.
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