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Downing Street has slapped down Donald Trump’s threat to target Iranian cultural sites after ordering the killing of top general Qassem Soleimani.

But the UK stopped short of calling such action a “war crime” - instead pointing to the international conventions which say it is one.

And Britain defended the killing of the military commander as “self defence” despite an international row.

Quds Force general Soleimani was killed by a Reaper drone last Friday in Baghdad, Iraq, on the US President's orders.

Overnight Donald Trump ramped up the threat of war with Iran by threatening to hit Iranian cultural sites - which if carried out would be a war crime - despite Secretary of State Mike Pompeo earlier saying that wouldn't happen.

The US President also vowed to impose sanctions on Iraq if it tells US troops to leave the country.

(Image: Getty Images)

Responding to the threats this morning, PM Boris Johnson ’s official spokesman said the UK had no plans to slap sanctions on Iraq.

And on the threat to target cultural sites he added: “There are international conventions in place that prevent the destruction of cultural heritage.”

Asked if such action would be a war crime, Boris Johnson's spokesman replied: "Well as I say, you can read the international conventions for themselves. It is the 1954 Hague Convention for the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict."

State media claimed millions poured onto Tehran's streets today for Soleimani's funeral as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei led prayers and openly wept.

Iran vowed revenge as one Iranian MP warned: “We can attack the White House itself."

(Image: Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Asked if the killing of Soleimani was legal, the UK Prime Minister's official spokesman said: “States have a right to take actions such as this in self-defence, and the US has been clear Soleimani was plotting imminent attacks on American diplomats and military personnel.”

The spokesman would not comment on whether Mr Johnson had received any secret intelligence from the US to back up his view. And he insisted the UK and US had a “very strong relationship” despite reports Boris Johnson was not told of the attack in advance.

The PM will hold crisis talks this afternoon with the Foreign Secretary, Defence Secretary and top officials.

He spoke this morning to Iraq's Prime Minister Abdul Mehdi. Downing Street said they "discussed the need to deescalate tensions in the region" and "work together to find a diplomatic way forward."

The UK will also hold a meeting of the National Security Council on Tuesday.

Asked why it took 68 hours for Boris Johnson - who was on holiday on a Caribbean island - to respond, his spokesman said: “The Prime Minister was in contact with senior officials and senior ministers throughout the course of Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

(Image: AFP via Getty Images)

He added: “His position was set out by the Foreign Secretary on Friday morning and there were regular updates from both the Foreign Secretary and Defence Secretary.”

Meanwhile Downing Street insisted the PM “has agreed to meet” Richard Ratcliffe, whose British wife Nazanin is jailed in Iran, but could not give a firm date.

The spokesman also said it was “extremely concerning” that Iran could drop its commitments to the nuclear deal.

"We've always said the nuclear deal is a reciprocal deal and in light of Iran's announcement we are urgently speaking to partners about next steps," he added.

The UK today said there were "no plans" for sanctions on Iraq - but urged the nation's government to let UK and US troops remain there.

The PM's spokesman said: "The coalition is in Iraq to protect Iraqis and others from the threat from Daesh at the request of the Iraqi government.

"We urge the Iraqi government to ensure the coalition is able to continue our vital work countering this shared threat."