Thread by @MesMitch

Johnson and Trudeau talk on phone
British prime minister Boris Johnson and his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau, had a telephone call with each other earlier in which they discussed the need for urgent de-escalation on all sides

in the US-Iran crisis following Iranian missile attacks on military bases housing US troops in Iraq overnight, a spokesperson for Johnson said.

The leaders also discussed working together, and with international partners, to ensure Iran is prevented from acquiring a nuclear weapon.

Johnson also offered condolences for the Canadians who lost their lives in the Ukrainian airliner that crashed shortly after take-off from Tehran on Wednesday, killing all 176 people on board.

There are few specifics available in terms of the two leaders’ reactions to Donald Trump announcing this morning the intention for the US to impose further sanctions on Iran, and the US president’s urging of allies to abandon

the “remnants” of the Iran Nuclear Deal, the international accord to trade a loosening of sanctions for Iran’s backing off from developing their own nuclear missile capability.

Afternoon summary
It’s been a lively day so far in US-facing international politics. There will be plenty more developments to come, so do read on. Here are the key events so far:

British foreign secretary Dominic Raab and US secretary of state Mike Pompeo will meet in Washington later today. The event was brought forward and was originally scheduled to happen tomorrow. Earlier, Boris Johnson and 🍊talked on the phone, but almost no details have emerged.

The US has promised full cooperation in investigations following the crash of a Ukrainian passenger flight shortly after take-off from Tehran in the early hours. There is unofficial talk that it was shot down.
🍊 ended his live address at the White House

earlier by appealing to Iran to coordinate with the US on “shared priorities” such as shutting off ISIS.
Trump said in his address that Iran appears to be “standing down” after missile launches from Iran towards

US forces in Iraq almost 24 hours ago avoided (perhaps deliberately, according to sources) causing any US casualties. Nevertheless, Trump announced more economic sanctions on Iran and asked NATO to get more involved.

Leading Iraqi signals US-Iran crisis is over - at least for Iraq
Influential Iraqi Shi’ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr said a little earlier today that the crisis Iraq was experiencing in recent days of heightened international tension is now over

following de-escalation rhetoric from both Iran and the US. He called on Iranian-backed militia groups not to carry out attacks.

A new, strong Iraqi government able to protect the nation’s sovereignty and independence should be formed in the next 15 days and usher in an early election, the populist cleric said in a statement, Reuters reports.

He added that Iraqis should still seek to expel foreign troops, however.

“I call on the Iraqi factions to be deliberate, patient, and not to start military actions, and to shut down the extremist voices of some rogue elements until all political, parliamentary and international methods have been exhausted,” he said.

British foreign secretary and US secretary of state to meet within hours
Dominic Raab, Britain’s foreign secretary, arrived in Washington an hour ago.

He had been expected to meet with counterpart Mike Pompeo, US secretary of state, tomorrow but the meeting has been brought forward to late this afternoon.

It’s now expected to take place at 4.30pm this afternoon. So far, we understand the two will not make public remarks before they disappear into their tête-a-tête but that could always change in the moment.

The two have met before, several times, and this was a pre-planned visit following the Conservative Party victory in December’s UK general election.

It’s not an emergency meeting following the eruption of the US-Iran crisis in the last week (which affects NATO, British troops in Iraq, Britain’s participation in the Iran nuclear deal and British interests overall in a stable Middle East).

But there seems little doubt the events of the last six days will now be on the agenda.

Donald Trump urged Britain and others earlier today to join the US in abandoning the Iran nuclear deal.

Meanwhile, a terse read-out from the White House on a phone call earlier today between Donald Trump and British prime minister Boris Johnson.

“The two leaders discussed the current situation in the Middle East and agreed to continue close coordination in support of shared national security interests.”

The US did not consult nor notify the UK before it assassinated Iranian general Qassem Suleimani last week.

Russia and Turkey urge de-escalation
From Istanbul today: Turkey and Russia called on the US and Iran to prioritize diplomacy and de-escalate tensions, warning that the exchange of attacks by Washington and Tehran could lead to a new cycle of instability in the region.

The joint call was issued in a statement after a meeting between presidents Tayyip Erdogan and Vladimir Putin in Turkey, where they were discussing cooperation on a gas pipeline, designed to connect the large gas reserves in

Russia 2⃣ the Turkish gas transportation network and provide energy supplies 4⃣Turkey, south and south-east Europe-In part, the joint statement read: “We are deeply concerned about the escalation of the tension between the US and Iran as well as its negative repercussions on Iraq

We evaluate the targeting..of Qassem Suleimani and his entourage in Baghdad on 3 January as an act undermining security and stability in the region.

“In light of the ballistic missile attacks by Iran against coalition military bases in Iraq on 8 January 2020, we believe that exchange of attacks and use of force by any party do not

contribute to finding solutions to the complex problems in the Middle East, but rather would lead to a new cycle of instability and would eventually damage everyone’s interests.”