France’s foreign minister said Monday that Tehran must not retaliate over the killing of top general Qasem Soleimani in a US air strike, amid an escalating war of words between Iranian officials and President Donald Trump, reports FRANCE 24.
“It is essential that Iran renounce any reprisals or retaliations,” Jean-Yves Le Drian told BFM television, adding that “there is still a place for diplomacy, fortunately.”
“In all the talks I’ve held with other officials, no one wants a war,” he added, while deploring “bad choices on all sides” for the “dangerous escalation” of tensions between Tehran and Washington.
Le Drian said any counterstrikes against the US would jeopardise the viability of the coalition fighting the Islamic State group threat in Iraq and Syria, which he said must remain the region’s priority.