UK's Johnson, Qatari emir discuss regional situation post-Soleimani

Johnson 'reiterated the need for calm on all sides' and 'underlined the UK’s continued commitment' to Iran nuclear deal

Web Desk

Published January 10, 2020

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson (L) attends an event in Colchester, Britain, July 13, 2019, and Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani (R) arrives at Khartoum Airport, Sudan, April 2, 2014. REUTERS/Peter Nicholls and Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah/Files

LONDON: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Qatari Emir, Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on Thursday spoke on phone, discussing the regional situation after Soleimani's death at the hands of the US.

According to a press release issued Friday by 10 Downing Street, the two "discussed the situation in the region following the death of Qasem Soleimani and the Prime Minister reiterated the need for calm on all sides.

"The Prime Minister underlined the UK’s continued commitment to the JCPoA and to ongoing engagement to reduce tensions and find diplomatic solutions".

The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is more commonly known as the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which US President Donald Trump on Wednesday had urged the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Russia, and China to pull out of.

Also read: Iraq PM says Soleimani was in Baghdad as mediator for Saudi Arabia, Iran

Johnson and Al Thani also spoke about "the importance of Coalition forces’ continued presence in the region to tackle the shared threat from Daesh."

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