Respect Iraqi Sovereignty, Missile Attacks Caused No Casualties: Iran

Iran said on Wednesday it respects Iraq’s territorial integrity, after firing missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops. In a letter to the United Nations Security Council and UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Iran’s ambassador to the UN, Majid Takht Ravanchi, said his country has full respect for “the independence, sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of the Republic of Iraq.” There were no American or Iraqi military casualties in the strikes.

“The operation was precise and targeted military objectives thus leaving no collateral damage to civilians and civilian assets in the area,” the diplomat said in a letter released by the Iranian mission.

Iran “recalls its dedication to the maintenance of international peace and security and stresses that it does not seek escalation or war,” he said.

Tehran launched ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing American and other coalition forces in retaliation for the US killing top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

Qasem Soleimani, the popular head of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm, was killed in a US drone strike outside Baghdad airport on Friday, ratcheting up tensions between the arch-foes.

On Wednesday, President Trump offering to embrace peace with the Iranian leadership, in a significant move to de-escalate spiralling tensions in the Middle East.

In a direct message to the Iranian leaders and the people, Trump said the United States was “ready to embrace peace with all who seek it”.

“To the people and leaders of Iran, we want you to have a future and a great future, one that you deserve,” the president said.

Trump said Iran appeared to be standing down, which was a good thing for all parties concerned and a very good thing for the world.

“For far too long, all the way back to 1979 to be exact, nations have tolerated Iran’s destructive and destabilising behaviour in the Middle East and beyond. Those days are over,” he said, adding that peace and stability cannot prevail in the Middle East as long as Iran continues to foment terrorism.

Trump also asked NATO “to become much more involved in the Middle East process.”

He vowed that he will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon.

“As long as I’m President of the United States, Iran will never be allowed to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.