Restraint, not escalation, is the way forward

The American raid that killed top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad has opened up a period of global uncertainty and all sides should see to it that there is no further escalation. Restraint and wisdom remain key words.

The US has said Soleimani was targeted in response to “imminent threats to American lives.” The US air strike seems to have been intended to restore strategic deterrence in the aftermath of the assault on the US embassy in the Iraqi capital.

Officially, the United States remains committed to a policy of coercive diplomacy, steadily increasing economic pressure through sanctions to persuade Iran to resume negotiations on nuclear and regional security issues.

President Donald Trump’s Twitter message hints at the reason behind the US action: “General Qassem Soleimani has killed or badly wounded thousands of Americans over an extended period of time, and was plotting to kill many more...but got caught! He was directly and indirectly responsible for the death of millions of people, including the recent large number of protesters killed in Iran itself.”

It is good that Washington has left the door open for dialogue. As Trump put it, “Iran never won a war, but never lost a negotiation!”

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo too has indicated that the US is committed to de-escalating tensions.

The current tensions are rooted in Trump’s decision in May 2018 to withdraw the US from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

Since then, Tehran shot down a US military surveillance drone and seized oil tankers. The US also blames Iran for other attacks targeting tankers and a September assault on Saudi Arabia’s oil industry.

There has been a global call for restraint and that should be respected.

A European Union top official has urged all parties involved to avoid further escalation “at all cost.” Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, has stated that the risk of the recent cycle of violence in Iraq “is a generalized flare-up of violence in the whole region.”

China, on its part, has called for peace and stability in the Middle East as well as respect for Iraq’s independence and territorial integrity.

The British foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, has stated, “We have always recognised the aggressive threat posed by the Iranian Quds force led by Qasem Soleimani. Following his death, we urge all parties to de-escalate. Further conflict is in none of our interests.”

Italy has warned that increased tensions risk being fertile terrain for terrorism and violent extremism.

The earlier attack on the US embassy in Iraq was a needless provocation. The UAE rightly condemned in the strongest terms the attack on the US Embassy in Baghdad, terming it a blatant violation of diplomatic norms and conventions.

As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation pointed out, the attempt to storm the US Embassy represented a serious escalation under international law.

It is important that peace and stability prevail in the Middle East.

Wisdom should triumph and escalation should be avoided, as Dr Anwar Bin Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, implied in a Twitter message:

“In light of the rapid regional developments, it is necessary to put wisdom, balance and political solutions above confrontation and escalation. The region has been facing complicated issues and suffers from a loss of confidence between parties. This situation requires adopting a rational approach that is free of emotions.’