NATO ambassadors to meet in Brussels over Iran concerns

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AFP) – NATO ambassadors will meet at their Brussels headquarters on Monday as Middle East tensions mount after U.S. forces killed a top Iranian general.

“The North Atlantic Council will address the situation in the region,” a NATO official said.

“The secretary general decided to convene the meeting of NATO ambassadors following consultations with allies.”

Last week’s killing of Qassem Soleimani in a U.S. drone strike at Baghdad airport surprised many of Washington’s allies and triggered calls for de-escalation.

But Tehran has vowed to avenge the commander, and U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened “major retaliation” if any American targets are hit.

The situation has also deteriorated in Iraq, where lawmakers have called for the 5,200 U.S. soldiers deployed there to leave.

NATO maintains a training mission in Iraq, preparing local forces to take on Islamic State, but this would be in doubt if coalition forces pull out.

On Saturday, a NATO spokesperson said the mission, which involves several hundred allied personnel, was continuing “but training activities are currently suspended.”

He also confirmed that NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had spoken by telephone with U.S. Secretary of Defence Mark Esper since Friday’s strike.