The ongoing tension between the US and Iran has left Bangladesh "concerned", says a senior Cabinet member.
"We are concerned over the US-Iran crisis and do not want a conflict," Obaidul Quader said on Thursday (Jan 9) before calling both countries for constraint and for the tensions to be defused.
A war will hurt the global economy, the road transport minister said while speaking to the media at his offices.
"Bangladesh will also take the brunt of the repercussion for a downward economic trend. But if there's a war, we would request Bangladeshi citizens in Iraq, Iran and the Middle East to exercise caution and contact the local embassies," added Quader, who serves as the ruling Awami League's general secretary.
The tit-for-tat military action, after months of rising tension since the US withdrew in 2018 from Iran’s nuclear pact with world powers, had stoked global concerns that the Middle East was heading towards another war.
However, Trump and Iranian officials looked to defuse the crisis that on Wednesday had threatened to spiral into open conflict after the killing of a prominent Iranian general Qassem Soleimani in Iraq on Jan 3 in a US drone strike was followed by Iran’s missile strikes on Iraqi bases housing US troops.
“The fact that we have this great military and equipment, however, does not mean we have to use it. We do not want to use it,” US President Donald Trump said in his address to the nation.
He said Iran “appears to be standing down, which is a good thing for all parties concerned” but he said the United States would impose additional sanctions on Iran, adding to measures that have slashed its oil exports and crippled its economy.
His comments came hours after Iran’s foreign minister said Iranian missile strikes “concluded” its response to the killing of Soleimani, a powerful general who masterminded Iran’s drive to build up proxy armies abroad.
Javad Zarif, said on Twitter that Iran did not “seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression”.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Iran remained determined to drive US forces out of the region.
But Washington said it had indications Tehran was telling its allies to refrain from new action against US troops.