Tehran 0
23 December 2020

President Trump tweeted that “our embassy in Baghdad got hit Sunday by several rockets. Three rockets failed to launch. Guess where they were from: IRAN. Now we hear chatter of additional attacks against American in Iraq”. “Some friendly health advice to Iran", Trump added. “If one American is killed, I will hold Iran responsible”. Relatedly, U.S. Central Command issued a statement asserting that the attack “was almost certainly conducted by an Iranian-backed rogue militia group”, adding: “These groups are Iranian-backed because Iran provides both material support and direction. They are rogue because they are actually acting on behalf of Iranian interests and direction in a direct betrayal of Iraqi sovereignty”. The statement went on to warn that “the U.S. will hold Iran accountable for the deaths of any Americans that result from the work of these Iranian-backed rogue militia groups”. Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said Trump had referred to “a worthless photo to recklessly accuse Iran” and warned that “Trump will bear full responsibility for any adventurism on his way out”.

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