UN chief finds Trump’s statement on Iran a step away from deescalation

Jan 9, 2019
United Nations: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is encouraged by US President Donald Trump’s latest statement on Iran, the UN chief’s spokesman said.

“We welcome any statement that shows that there is a step away from escalation and from direct confrontation,” said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman, on Wednesday, when asked whether the secretary-general was encouraged by Trump’s statement, Xinhua news agency reported.

In a televised White House address after Iran launched ballistic missiles at Iraqi bases housing US troops in retaliation for the U.S. killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani, Trump said he would impose additional sanctions against Tehran, but also indicated de-escalation.

Trump said in the remarks that “Iran appears to be standing down,” calling it “a good thing” for all parties concerned.

“Finally, to the people and leaders of Iran: We want you to have a future and a great future … and harmony with the nations of the world. The United States is ready to embrace peace with all who seek it,” said Trump.

“Tens of thousands of ISIS (Islamic State) fighters have been killed or captured during my administration. ISIS is a natural enemy of Iran. The destruction of ISIS is good for Iran, and we should work together on this and other shared priorities,” he added.

Dujarric said: “We welcome any indication that leaders are walking back from major confrontation, and are doing whatever they can to avoid any further escalation.”

In a statement earlier Wednesday, Dujarric said the UN secretary-general will continue to mediate.

“For his part, the secretary-general will continue his active engagement with relevant actors. It is our common duty to make every effort to avoid a war in the Gulf that the world cannot afford. We must not forget the terrible human suffering caused by war. As always, ordinary people pay the highest price,” he said in the statement.

The US Pentagon on Tuesday confirmed that Iran had launched more than a dozen ballistic missiles against at least two military bases housing US and coalition forces in Iraq. Trump said Wednesday that there were no casualties on the US side.

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps claimed responsibility for the missile attacks, saying that they were meant to retaliate the US killing of General Qassem Soleimani. It claimed that some 80 US personnel were killed and nearly 200 others injured in the attcak. However, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday said that no American soldie was killed, but there were some ”minimal damages” to the military base.
IANS

Pakistan: Blast kills four, injures 11 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province

Islamabad: At least four people, including senior provincial government officials, were killed and 11 others injured in a powerful roadside bomb blast targetting a convoy in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa...

Odisha Human Rights Commission seeks report on Puri stampede

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has sought separate reports from the Chief Administrator of Shree Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA), the Puri district Collector and Superintendent of Police on...

Bangladesh: Former PM Sheikh Hasina sentenced to six months in prison by local crimes tribunal

Dhaka: The International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) of Bangladesh on Wednesday sentenced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to a six-month prison sentence on charges of contempt of court. Additionally, Shakil Akanda...

Quad foreign ministers reaffirm commitment to ‘free and open’ Indo-Pacific

New Delhi: The Quad Foreign Ministers have reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, and opposed any unilateral actions that seek to change the status quo by...

Telangana pharma unit blast: Search continues for 13 missing workers

Hyderabad: Search for 13 missing workers following the blast at a pharmaceutical unit at Pashamyalaram near Hyderabad continued on Wednesday. More than 48 hours after the blast at Sigachi Industries...

Bomb threat at Coimbatore Collectorate triggers high alert; security ramped up

Chennai: A fresh bomb threat targeting the Coimbatore Collectorate triggered a major security scare, prompting an intense search operation across the government complex. The threat, received through an anonymous letter,...

Sirsa announces cloud seeding trials in Delhi from Aug 30-Sep 10

New Delhi: Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced on Tuesday that the Delhi government has secured final clearance from the aviation regulator for conducting cloud seeding trials between August...

Reopen cases deliberately buried, file FIR: J&K L-G takes up issues of terror victim families

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday chaired a high-level meeting to discuss issues concerning those terror victim families whose members were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists, and...

US foreign aid cuts can lead to over 14 mn preventable deaths globally by 2030: Lancet

New Delhi: The dismantling of US foreign aid, imposed by the Donald Trump government, can lead to more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, including over 4.5 million children...

Elections in Bangladesh will be held early next year: Yunus tells Rubio

Dhaka: Bangladeshi interim government's Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus has sought US support for the country's democratic transition and reaffirmed that elections would be held "in the early part of next...

Padma awardee Kartik Maharaj accused of raping woman approaches Calcutta HC for scrapping FIR against him

Kolkata: Padma Shree awardee monk Kartik Maharaj, attached to the Murshidabad unit of the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, who had been accused by a woman recently of allegedly raping her for...

Indian Navy rescues 14 countrymen from vessel on fire in Arabian Sea

New Delhi: The Indian Navy rescued 14 countrymen serving as crew members on-board a Palau-flagged tanker MT Yi Cheng 6 which caught fire in the North Arabian Sea, an official...

Read Previous

‘Lack of credit, lower consumption led India’s growthrate to 5%’

Read Next

New Parliament House to be ready for session from 2022: Om Birla

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com