Image Source : PTI (FILE) Foreign Minister S Jaishankar said Iranian FM Javad Zarif agreed to stay in contact about developments.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday spoke with Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif. In a tweet after his conversation with Zarif, Jaishankar said that the situation in Iran has taken a "very serious turn". Both ministers have agreed to remain in touch over developments in Iran. US-Iran relations have taken a sharp nosedive after Iran's top military commander Qasem Soleimani was killed by US in a drone-strike near Baghdad airport. This was followed by rocket attacks at US Embassy in Baghdad and US airbase in Balad in northern Iraq.

"Just concluded a conversation with FM @JZarif of Iran. Noted that developments have taken a very serious turn. India remains deeply concerned about the levels of tension. We agreed to remain in touch," read Jaishankar's tweet.

Just concluded a conversation with FM @JZarif of Iran. Noted that developments have taken a very serious turn. India remains deeply concerned about the levels of tension. We agreed to remain in touch. — Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) January 5, 2020

The situation in the Middle East/ West Asia became volatile on Friday (January 3) as US airstrikes killed Soleimani in Baghdad.

Soleimani was the architect of Iran’s regional policy of mobilizing militias across Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, including in the war against the Islamic State group. He was also blamed for attacks on U.S. troops and American allies going back decades.

Iran had promised “harsh revenge” for the U.S. attack. Iranians across all political lines were shocked by the death of a commander widely seen as a pillar of the Islamic Republic, at a moment when it is beset by U.S. sanctions and recent anti-government protests.

Late on Saturday (January 4), rocket missiles were launched at US Embassy in Baghdad and US air base in Balad.

US President Donald Trump has strongly supported his government's decision to eliminate Qasen Soleimani who, said Trump, was planning to carry out terrorist attacks across the world.

The Iranian government has been equally combative in its response. Iran Foreign Minister Javad Zarif tweeted on Sunday and said that Iran was "standing tall" even when "barbarians have come and ravaged our cities, razed our monuments and burnt our libraries."

"A reminder to those hallucinating about emulating ISIS war crimes by targeting our cultural heritage: Through MILLENNIA of history, barbarians have come and ravaged our cities, razed our monuments and burnt our libraries. Where are they now? We’re still here, & standing tall," read Javad Zarif's complete tweet.

A reminder to those hallucinating about emulating ISIS war crimes by targeting our cultural heritage:

Through MILLENNIA of history, barbarians have come and ravaged our cities, razed our monuments and burnt our libraries.



Where are they now?



We’re still here, & standing tall. — Javad Zarif (@JZarif) January 5, 2020

Also Read | US withdrawing forces from Middle-East, claims Iran's Press TV

Also Read | Qasem Soleimani’s body arrives in Iran as Donald Trump issues new threats

Watch | Iran attacked us, & we hit back, saya US President Donald Trump

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