Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that he would hold
"Iran responsible"
in the event of a fatal attack on Americans in Iraq, as the first anniversary of the death of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani, killed by a state strike, approaches -United.
"Our embassy in Baghdad was hit on Sunday by several rockets,"
the outgoing US president recalled on Twitter, citing an attack that caused material damage but no deaths.
“Guess where they came from: IRAN,”
he added.
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"Now we are hearing speculation about further attacks against Americans in Iraq,"
he continued, before addressing "salutary and friendly advice to Iran: If an American is killed, I will hold Iran." responsible ”.
"Think carefully,"
he warned, without further details.
The head of American diplomacy Mike Pompeo had already pointed the finger at Tehran.
And the chief of the American forces in the Middle East, General Frank McKenzie, warned that the United States was
"ready to react"
in the event of an Iranian attack to mark the anniversary of the death of Qassem Soleimani.
In response, Iran urged US authorities on Monday not to provoke
"tension".
Donald Trump had ordered a drone attack on January 3, 2020 to eliminate the powerful Iranian general while he was in Baghdad.
The region then held its breath in fear of an uncontrolled escalation which ultimately did not take place.
But the tension dates back to the approach of the first anniversary of this operation, and as the American president who pursues a policy of "maximum pressure" against Tehran enters the last weeks of his mandate.
Washington has already recently reduced its diplomatic staff in the Iraqi capital, and speculation about an outright closure of its embassy, recurring, resurfaced in recent days.
