New Delhi: Hours after Iran's most powerful General Qassem Soleimani, head of the Quds Force of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), was killed in the US-led drone strike in Baghdad earlier on Friday, India has asked both United States and Iran to exercise restraint.
The Ministry of External Affairs issued a statement saying, "We have noted that a senior Iranian leader has been killed by the US. The increase in tension has alarmed the world. Peace, stability and security in this region are of utmost importance to India. It is important that the situation doesn't escalate any further."
India's statement came after Iran vowed to take revenge from the US. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani tweeted saying that Iran will take revenge for this heinous crime.
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The flag of General Soleimani in defense of the country's territorial integrity and the fight against terrorism and extremism in the region will be raised, and the path of resistance to US excesses will continue. The great nation of Iran will take revenge for this heinous crime.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 3, 2020 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">The flag of General Soleimani in defense of the country's territorial integrity and the fight against terrorism and extremism in the region will be raised, and the path of resistance to US excesses will continue. The great nation of Iran will take revenge for this heinous crime.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 3, 2020The flag of General Soleimani in defense of the country's territorial integrity and the fight against terrorism and extremism in the region will be raised, and the path of resistance to US excesses will continue. The great nation of Iran will take revenge for this heinous crime.
— Hassan Rouhani (@HassanRouhani) January 3, 2020
Talking exclusively to ETV Bharat on the implications of this drone strike, Observer Research Foundation Fellow Kabir Taneja, who has written extensively on the middle east, didn't express any surprise.
"This is one of the examples where Iran burnt their hands in the fire. We know that there are a cat and mouse game played between Iran and the US in the middle-east. But what might have pushed Trump over is the violent protest which took place outside the US Embassy in Baghdad which was done by the supporters of Shia Militia," said ORF fellow.
He asserted that despite US intelligence reports about his presence, executing Suleimani was never their top priority. But this time they have got clearance from the top level of their leadership.
On whether the killing of Suleimani might impact on India, Kabir said, "Any conflict in the middle-east shoots up oil prices in India as we no control over oil pricing. We have already seen that the prices have gone up today just on fear. It is not a good thing for a limping economy like India."
Though he asserted that India can sure to meet its energy requirements by looking towards other avenues. India stopped importing oil from Iran after the US ended it sanction waivers given to seven countries including India last year.
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