World War III: France, Germany affirm position on General Soleimani’s killing by US

Germany and France have joined other world leaders in reaction to the killing of Iranian topmost military leader, Maj. Gen. Qassem Soleimani by the government of United States of America.

Maj.Gen. Soleimani, Commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, was killed in a US airstrike on his convoy at Baghdad airport on Friday rising another World War tension.

Chancellor Angela Merkel, through her Spokeswoman, Ulrike Demmer urged restraint and de-escalation.

Speaking to Al Jazeera “We are at a dangerous point of escalation. It is now important through prudence and restraint to contribute to de-escalation,” Demmer said.

Also speaking, Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said the aim now was to prevent further escalation across the Middle East.

“We are making use of our diplomatic channels to Iran and to other states in the region,” he said.

“Since this morning we have been in close contact with our British and French partners and with other European countries on how we can best work to calm the situation.”

Also reacting, France said its main concern is to calm the Middle East.

French Secretary of State for European Affairs Amelie de Montchalin who spoke to RTL radio said: “What is happening is what we feared: Tensions between the United States and Iran are increasing. “The priority is to stabilise the region.”

“We have woken up to a more dangerous world.” French President Emmanuel Macron would consult soon with “players in the region,” Montchalin added.