By Abba Gwale
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday has warned the outgoing US President Donald Trump about alleged Israel’s plan to provoke a war through attacks on US forces in Iraq.
According to Reuters, Zarif issued the warning on the anniversary of the US killing of top Iranian general Qassem Soleimani by a drone strike in Iraq, though There was no immediate comment by Israel.
America blames Iran-backed militia for regular rocket attacks on U.S. facilities in Iraq, including near the U.S. embassy. No known Iran-backed groups have claimed responsibility.
“New intelligence from Iraq indicate that Israeli agent-provocateurs are plotting attacks against Americans — putting an outgoing Trump in a bind with a fake casus belli (act justifying war),” Zarif said in a tweet.
“Be careful of a trap, @realDonaldTrump. Any fireworks will backfire badly,” Zarif wrote.
Reuters said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office and the Israeli Foreign Ministry have declined to comment on Zarif’s remarks.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Zarif’s message.
The US military flew two nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Middle East in a message of deterrence to Iran on Wednesday, but the bombers have since left the region.
