FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo delivers remarks on human rights in Iran at the State Department in Washington, U.S., December 19, 2019. REUTERS/Erin Scott
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday said Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani was not in Baghdad pursuing a peaceful diplomatic mission when the United States killed him in a drone attack last week.
“Is there any history that would indicate that it was remotely possible that this kind gentleman, this diplomat of great order – Qassem Soleimani – had traveled to Baghdad for the idea of conducting a peace mission?” Pompeo told reporters.
“We know that wasn’t true.”
Reporting by David Brunnstrom and Daphne Psaledakis; Writing by Tim Ahmann; Editing by Mohammad Zargham