UK’s Johnson: Iranian general ‘threat to all our interests’

In this screen grab image issued by the Prime Minister's Press Office, showing Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his New Year's message to be broadcast Tuesday Dec. 31, 2019. Johnson has said Britain can look forward to a decade of "prosperity and opportunity", as it finally ends the "rancour and uncertainty" of Brexit. (Prime Minister's Press Office via AP) In this screen grab image issued by the Prime Minister's Press Office, showing Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his New Year's message to be broadcast Tuesday Dec. 31, 2019. Johnson has said Britain can look forward to a decade of "prosperity and opportunity", as it finally ends the "rancour and uncertainty" of Brexit. (Prime Minister's Press Office via AP)

By Associated Press January 6, 2020 4 min read

LONDON (AP) – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that the Iranian general killed in a U.S. drone strike in Iraq was “a threat to all our interests” and that “we will not lament his death.”

Johnson, who spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday, called for de-escalation from all sides.

“All calls for retaliation or reprisals will simply lead to more violence in the region and they are in no one’s interest,” the U.K. leader said.

It was the first statement from Johnson on soaring Mideast tensions since Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani was killed in Baghdad on Friday.

Prior to the statement, the British leader had been criticized for remaining silent on the issue and not cutting short his vacation on the private Caribbean island of Mustique during the escalating crisis. Johnson is now back in the U.K.