WASHINGTON: The United States said Wednesday it “strongly condemns” Iran’s deadly bombardment in Iraqi Kurdistan and warned against further attacks, amid a crackdown by Tehran in its own Kurdish areas.

“We stand with the people and government of Iraq in the face of these brazen attacks on their sovereignty,” State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement.

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan condemned “these attacks as an assault on the sovereignty of Iraq and its people. Iranian leaders continue to demonstrate flagrant disregard not only for the lives of their own people, but also for their neighbors and the core principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity enshrined in the UN Charter.”

Sullivan also called out Iran’s supply of armed drones to Russian forces invading Ukraine, saying this and the “flagrant” bombing of neighbors by Iran “should be universally condemned.”

“The United States will continue to pursue sanctions and other means to disrupt Iran’s destabilizing activities across the Middle East region.”

Meanwhile, Britain urged Iran to end what it called “indiscriminate bombardment” in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, after 13 people were killed.

“These attacks are a violation of Iraq’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and are wholly unacceptable,” junior foreign minister Tariq Ahmad said.

“They demonstrate a repeated pattern of Iranian destabilising activity in the region,” he added, pledging London’s support for Iraq.

AFP