World War 3 fears have heightened after the US military on Thursday killed Iran’s second-most-powerful commander Qassem Soleimani as he travelled to Baghdad International Airport alongside anti-ISIS paramilitary chief Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. The US Department of Defense claimed General Soleimani had masterminded several attacks on US targets, causing the death of American civilians as well as military personnel through several years and was orchestrating further strikes. But Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said “severe revenge awaits the criminals” behind the attack.

The lieutenant general told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that the allies were “joined at the hip” in Iraq and that casualties could be shared if Iran strikes back following the US decision to kill Qassem Soleimani, a leading Iranian general.

The Ministry of Defence adviser said: “I don’t think the British are any more vulnerable than the Americans in this case – we are joined at the hip in this.

“But the Iranians are quite right. Because we’re so closely joined in this, any attack on American assets will inevitably, possibly lead to British casualties as well.”

Sir Simon said he expected British diplomats would be talking to their American counterparts on an “hourly basis” to discuss attempts to de-escalate tensions.

In a swipe at President Donald Trump’s approach to the crisis, he said: “I think they will be encouraging officials to remind the President all the time that the best way to go forward is with allies and friends and to try and stop this escalatory talk over the Twittersphere.”

It comes as The former US ambassador to Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria warned the terror group will take advantage of the hostility between the US and Iran.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Ryan Crocker said: “It’s important to remember that as upset at Iraqis may be, they also know there is a bigger energy out there which is the Islamic State.

“If you recall in 2014 when Islamic State ruled through much of north and western Iraq it resulted in immediate appeal for the United States to send forces back along with other coalition members which we did.

“The Iraqis have got a lot to consider right now.”

Host Martha Kearney asked: “Is there a risk with the increasing hostility between the US and Iran that that could act as a kind of distraction in the battle against the Islamic State group?”

Mr Crocker replied: “We’ve already seen a coalition pause against the Islamic State and Syria, how long is that pause going to last?

“It’s clear to me having gone through this with Al-Qaeda and Iraq a dozen years ago, Islamic State may be gone in a sense they are not targets above ground anymore.

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“But they’re still on the scene and they will take advantage of any opening they can find or lack of attention or focus on the coalition to dig in again and reassert themselves.

“I think as long as operations are paused, as long as our guns are pointed elsewhere, they will try to take advantage of that.”

The former ambassador later said Iranian general Qassem Soleimani “deserved” to die.

He went on to criticise the decision not to inform Britain about the strike.

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