The United States is “rightly furious about previously unacceptable Iranian violence,” says VVD MP Sven Koopmans. “But a personal attack on a general is an unprecedented and risky step. Escalation is not the answer, the countries must now talk quickly, if necessary with the help of others.”
That is also the opinion of Sjoerd Sjoerdsma of D66. “The cabinet’s first priority must now be the safety of Dutch people in the region,” he says.
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Mission in Hormuz Street
According to D66, the cabinet must ‘weigh again’ or participation in the mission in the Strait of Hormuz has not become extra risky. That mission can also be ‘important now,’ but the government must make that consideration. At the end of January a Dutch navy ship goes to the strait, as part of a diplomatic-military mission led by France.
Purpose of the mission is to protect the shipping lanes in the street. Oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz were attacked in May and June. According to the Americans by Iran, but that country denied. The US then asked a number of countries, including the Netherlands, to participate in an operation to protect shipping there.
“Mission unwise”
MP Sadet Karabulut of opposition party SP believes that steering the ship has “only become more unwise” under the new circumstances. She hopes that the government will revise the decision.
The Ministry of Defense has announced that the mission, under the leadership of France, will continue as usual. The Dutch frigate Zr.Ms. De Ruyter is leaving towards the strait at the end of this month.
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Bram van Ojik from GroenLinks believes that the ‘diplomatic track’ should now be activated ‘urgently’. “The Netherlands, together with France and Denmark, the three initiators of the mission in the Strait of Hormuz, must activate the EU to prevent escalation.”
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Blok calls situation ‘worrying’
“The situation is worrying and serious,” says Minister Stef Blok about the attacks. “It is of great importance that the tranquility is preserved in the region.” Iran promotes instability in the region, says Blok. The killed General Qassem Soleimani “had a role in it.”
The Netherlands is following the situation closely and ‘is in contact with international partners’, the minister emphasizes. “The safety of Dutch people in the region always has our full attention, even now.”
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“Further escalation is almost impossible”
According to Middle Eastern correspondent Olaf Koens, Iran is seeking revenge.
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