Jeremy Corbyn accuses Boris Johnson of providing ‘cover’ to Trump over assassination of Iran general

Defence secretary tells Commons that Britain defends the rights of countries to protect themselves

Jeremy Corbyn has accused Boris Johnson of providing “cover” to Donald Trump over the killing of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani because of his dependence on a post-Brexit trade deal with the US president.

Mr Corbyn branded the drone strike on the leader of Iran’s feared Quds Force an assassination and told the House of Commons that it was widely regarded as illegal.

And he accused the prime minister of hiding away from scrutiny after Mr Johnson sent Ben Wallace, the defence secretary, to answer MPs’ questions on the 3 January killing in Baghdad.

But Mr Wallace dismissed the Labour leader’s comments as “anti-American, anti-imperialistic guff” and insisted that he had seen evidence suggesting there was “a case of self-defence to be made” by Washington, which has claimed Soleimani was involved in the planning of an imminent attack on US interests.

The defence secretary declined to rule out UK involvement in military action in Iran, and said that he hoped British troops would be able to remain in neighbouring Iraq, where their mission training local military forces has been paused following Soleimani’s death so they can concentrate on force protection.

Helicopters and ships in the region have been put on stand-by to assist if needed, while non-essential staff have been relocated from Baghdad to the Taji allied military base, he told MPs in a statement. Meanwhile, a specialist team has been sent to the region to provide additional “situational awareness” and contingency planning assistance.

Calling for a de-escalation of tension on all sides, Mr Wallace told the Commons: “The United States is confident that General Soleimani came to Baghdad to coordinate imminent attacks on American diplomats and military personnel. The UK will always defend the right for countries to defend themselves.”

Pressed by Mr Corbyn on what evidence the UK had seen to support US claims of a planned attack, the defence secretary added: “From the information and intelligence I have seen, it is clear that there was a case of self-defence to be made about an individual who had come to Iraq to coordinate murder and attacks on US citizens.”

After Mr Trump threatened Iraq with sanctions if its government acted on a vote in the Baghdad parliament and told western troops to leave, Mr Wallace told MPs the UK wants to keep its own military personnel in the country, but was ready to pull out if told to.

“We are ... trying to get them to say that it’s in your best interest for us to remain,” Mr Wallace told the Commons.” [But] we will respect Iraqi sovereignty. If they require us to leave, that is their right and we will respect it.”

Mr Wallace said that the UK would “condemn any attacks on heritage sites” in Iran, adding: “If anyone was to do that, no matter whether they were friend or foe, we would, of course, call them out on doing that.”

Mr Trump declared on Saturday that the United States had identified 52 cultural sites in Iran as potential targets if the conflict escalates, although the Pentagon later indicated the US will observe the laws of armed conflict which outlaw such an attack.

In the Commons, Liberal Democrat acting leader Ed Davey demanded to know if the government could rule out joining the US in any military attack on Iran.

Mr Wallace responded: “I’m not going to rule out anything. The UK will do what it has to do to defend its persons, its citizens and wherever it needs to do that. That is our duty.”

Mr Corbyn demanded to know why Mr Johnson himself had not come to the Commons to deliver a statement on “the assassination of Iranian general Qassem Soleimani – an extremely dangerous and aggressive act that risks starting yet another deadly war in the Middle East”.

The Labour leader said: “He is hiding behind his defence secretary. Isn’t the truth that he is scared to stand up to President Trump because he has hitched his wagon to the prospect of a toxic Trump trade deal.

“At this highly dangerous moment, we find the government giving cover to and even expressing sympathy for what is widely regarded as an illegal act because they are so determined to keep in with president Trump.”

And he added: “Whatever the record of any state official, the principle and the law is that we don’t go around assassinating foreign leaders. Without the clear demonstration of an immediate threat, it is illegal.”

Responding to Mr Corbyn’s demand for Mr Johnson to face MPs, Mr Wallace retorted: “Funnily enough, the prime minister is running the country – something the leader of the opposition will fail to ever do as a result of the election.”

Challenged over why it was Mr Wallace and not the PM himself who was delivering today’s statement to MPs, Mr Johnson’s official spokesman told reporters: “The PM leads a cabinet government and the response to events in the Middle East is a collective cabinet response.”

But Mr Davey said: “It is shameful that Boris Johnson is hiding behind his ministers rather than addressing the intensification of tensions between the US and Iran.

“The prime minister must stop dodging parliament and explain what he will do to de-escalate the situation and ensure the safety of British service personnel and civilians in the region.

“Boris Johnson must confirm that he will not blindly follow Donald Trump into military action against Iran. That would be the most reckless decision since the Iraq war.”