Iran crisis: US Ambassador claims killing Qassem Soleimani was an act of peace

The US drone killing of a top Iranian commander was an act of peace, Donald Trump’s man in Britain claimed today.

US Ambassador Woody Johnson backed the President’s decision to assassinate General Qassem Soleimani - and insisted it was not a provocative strike.

Washington and Tehran appear to have stepped back from the brink of war after Iran fired 16 rockets at coalition air bases in Iraq in retaliation for Soleimani’s death.

Mr Johnson said Mr Trump has “always been ready to talk about peace”.


The envoy was asked on LBC Radio if “is it the action of a President who wants peace to kill the commander of the Revolutionary Forces? Is that a peace-loving action?”

The American diplomat said: “I think it is when his sworn duty is to protect Americans.”

Soleiman was killed one week ago by a US air strike at Baghdad airport in Iraq, ordered by President Donald Trump .