Jeremy Corbyn criticises ‘the US assassination’ of Iran’s top general

Jeremy Corbyn, the current leader of the Labour party who is set to step down following a Conservative landslide at the last general election, has said “the US assassination” of the general “is an extremely serious and dangerous escalation of conflict in the Middle East with global significance”.

In a statement, Corbyn notes: “The UK government should urge restraint on the part of both Iran and the US, and stand up to the belligerent actions and rhetoric coming from the United States.”

Here’s a roundup of reactions from Labour leadership hopefuls to a US airstrike in Baghdad killing Qassem Suleimani, Iran’s top general.

Nick Robinson, BBC’s Radio 4’s Today programme host, described the event as “a very early test for those who want to be leader of the opposition”.

Keir Starmer, the current frontrunner to win the Labour leadership, tweeted that the incident is “an extremely serious situation” and called for all sides to de-escalate tensions.

The Labour MP Lisa Nandy, who is also considering a run to replace Jeremy Corbyn, described the airstrike as “a very dangerous moment”. She added: “Seventeen years after the catastrophic decision to go to war in Iraq, violence still rages every day. World leaders must stand up to Trump. The last thing we need is another all-out war.”

Jess Phillips, the Labour MP who is expected to formally declare her bid to lead the Labour party, said: “Reckless foreign policy does not show strength. It’s not a game. The consequences of the escalating tensions between the US and Iran are not to be underestimated, not just once again on the civilians in the region but on the whole world.”

Robinson asked Melanie Onn, a Labour MP who lost her seat but is supporting Phillips: “Should people like Jess Phillips take a sort of Corbyn stand, or should she be wary of those who criticise Mr Corbyn for seeming to back the wrong side in international conflict.” In response, Onn said: “I don’t think that anyone who is trying to emulate somebody else is the right person for the Labour party.”