This archive report was first published on 8 January 2020.
On January 8, 2020, the Iranian embassy in Nairobi reiterated its government's position that the US would bear full responsibility for the assassination of Qasem Soleimani, who was coordinating clandestine military operations in Iraq and the Middle East.
Iran's Third Secretary and Head of Political department, Tohid Afzali, told a news conference that Iran was ready to defend itself against the US, which it said had started a war.
"This extremely provocative move was aimed at escalating tensions to an uncontrollable level in a region already facing numerous challenges, and it is self-evident that the United States shall bear full responsibility for all consequences," Afzali said.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had vowed a deadly offensive against the US and its forces after being killed in a US drone attack in Iraq at the weekend, on orders of President Donald Trump.
Trump had described Khamenei as the most dangerous person for leading covert attacks that targeted Americans and its forces in Iraq.
"Bearing in mind that Major General Qasem Soleimani has been assassinated by US terrorist attack while he was officially invited by the Iraqi Prime Minister to deliver Iran's response to the Saudi as declared by Iraqi PM. This horrible attack becomes strongly condemned by the Iraqi government and the prime minister who hosted Major General Qasem Soleimani," he said.
Trump had denied claims that he was out to ignite a war with the Persian State, instead saying his action was meant to stop one launched by Khamenei's government.
Afzali told the news conference in Nairobi that the US action was unlawful and invalidates its claim of fighting terrorism, instead fighting those who combat terrorists.
