Husband of Brit jailed in Iran says US killing General Qasem Soleimani harms her chances of freedom
THE husband of a Brit mum jailed in Iran says the US assassination of a top general has damaged her chances of freedom.
Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a dual British-Iranian citizen, has been caged in Iran's capital Tehran since 2016 when she was arrested and accused of spying while visiting family.
General Quassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, was killed in a missile strike near Baghdad's airport on Friday.
President Donald Trump personally approved the attack that took out the military chief, the second most powerful person in Iran.
Richard Ratcliffe has now voiced his fears for her safety and that of her family after the air strike.
Richard, who has spent the last four years campaigning for her release, told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "Things are getting much worse again between the US and Iran, but also between all of us and Iran.
"For all of us who are caught between Iran and the West it will make things more difficult. How we get out of the situation, goodness knows at this point.
"My job is knocking on the door of the Prime Minister and saying you are responsible for keeping all of us safe."
He added: "I sit here partly worried for what that means for Nazanin, partly worried what that means for my in-laws, sat in their ordinary living room in Tehran where they're all really worried."
Several experts have warned of retaliations from Iran following the American strike.
Former Middle East minister, Alistair Burt, said the situation is "extremely serious".
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the air strike could cause "a huge potential escalation" of the conflict, of which "the consequences are unknown".
He added it is "very important now to concentrate on what happens next, and for everybody involved diplomatically to do everything they can to try and diffuse the situation".
Gen Soleimani spearheaded Iranian military operations in the Middle East as head of the country's elite Quds Force.
Two missiles fired from a MQ9 Reaper drone struck Gen Soleimani shortly after he disembarked from an aircraft at Baghdad airport.
Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, deputy head of Iraq's association of militia forces, was also killed in the attack.
'CRUSHING REVENGE'
The Pentagon justified the assassination, saying Gen Soleimani was "actively developing plans to attack American diplomats and service members in Iraq and throughout the region".
The drone strike came days after protesters attacked the US embassy in Baghdad, clashing with US forces at the scene.
The Pentagon said Gen Soleimani approved the attacks on the embassy.
Minutes before the statement President Donald Trump tweeted a US flag without comment.
It has been reported that Ismail Qaani has been appointed as commander of the Quds Force of the Revolutionary Guards by Ali Khamenei - the leader of the Islamic Republic.
Gen Soleimani's killing marks a major escalation in tensions between the US and Iran.
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Amir Hatami, Iran's defence minister, has threatened the US with "crushing revenge" for Gen Soleimani's "unjust assassination".
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said "severe revenge awaits the criminals" behind the attack.
He also announced three days of public mourning.
