WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday condemned Iran’s ballistic missile assault on Iraq’s northern Kurdish regional capital of Erbil, and mentioned Washington was working to help Iraq get missile defense capabilities to defend itself.
Sullivan instructed CBS’s “Face the Nation” program that no U.S. residents have been harmed within the assault, and no U.S. services have been hit, however the United States would do no matter it takes to defend its individuals, pursuits and allies.
“We are in session with the Iraqi authorities and the federal government in Iraqi Kurdistan, partly to help them get the missile defense capabilities to find a way to defend themselves of their cities,” he mentioned.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed duty for a dozen ballistic missiles that struck Iraq’s northern Kurdish regional capital of Erbil within the early hours of Sunday, Iran’s state media reported.
The missiles focused the U.S. consulate amongst different websites, in accordance to the Kurdish regional authorities.
Asked concerning the impression on negotiations over a nuclear settlement with Iran that have been at an deadlock, Sullivan mentioned, “The numerous negotiators are again house of their capitals and we can have to see what occurs within the days forward with respect to the diplomacy across the nuclear deal.”
He mentioned President Joe Biden remained strongly dedicated to stopping Iran from buying nuclear weapons.
“One factor I’ll say is that the one factor extra harmful than Iran armed with ballistic missiles and superior navy capabilities is an Iran that has all of these issues and a nuclear weapon,” he mentioned.
U.S. forces stationed on the Erbil International Airport advanced had come below earlier fireplace from rocket and drone assaults that Washington blames on Iran-aligned militia teams, however no such assaults have occurred for a number of months.
The Defense Department referred all queries about Sullivan’s feedback on missile defense capabilities to the State Department, which oversees safety help agreements with different international locations.
The State Department had no fast touch upon any new safety help packages for Iraq.
(Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Marguerita Choy and Richard Chang)
