US killing of Iran general will ‘increase tensions’: Moscow

US killing of Iran general will 'increase tensions': Moscow
US killing of Iran general will 'increase tensions': Moscow

Moscowwarned Friday that the US killing of top Iranian commander Qasem Soleimani inIraq would boost tensions across the Middle East.

"Thekilling of Soleimani… was an adventurist step that will increase tensionsthroughout the region," news agencies RIA Novosti and TASS quoted theforeign ministry as saying.

"Soleimaniserved the cause of protecting Iran's national interests with devotion. Weexpress our sincere condolences to the Iranian people."

Russiaand Iran are key allies in the Middle East, with the militaries of bothcountries backing President Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria.

Moscowis also one of the world powers that negotiated the landmark Iran nuclear dealthat Washington withdrew from in 2018, leading to a surge in tensions.

KonstantinKosachev, the head of the foreign affairs committee of the Russian parliament'supper house, said Soleimani's killing was a mistake that would hit back atWashington.

"Retaliatorystrikes will certainly follow," he said in a post on his Facebook page,adding that Israel was likely also worried.

Hesaid the killing marked the end of any chance to salvage the nuclear deal.

"Thelast hopes of resolving the Iranian nuclear problem have been 'bombed',"he wrote.

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