Qassem Soleimani was killed at Baghdad airport, along with militia figures, in an airstrike ordered by Donald Trump on Friday. The killing of the Iranian general marked a drastic escalation in the tensions between Iran and the US. The Labour Party leader was critical of the killing during an interview with Sky News’ Deputy Political Editor Sam Coates. The Sky host pressed Mr Corbyn on whether Soleimani was a terrorist, but the question was dodged four times.

Mr Coates asked: “Do you doubt that Soleimani was engaging in terrorist acts? Do you doubt that he was not in Baghdad, as the minister said today, in order to plot assaults on the West and on coalition forces?”

Mr Corbyn replied: “He was in Iraq, for reasons of contact, I assume, with the Iraq government, I’ve no idea what his actual meetings were.

“All I’m saying is that to assassinate an official of a foreign government in a third country, in this case Iraq, is illegal under any law and the US, if it wants the world to stand by international law, must stand by international law itself.”

Mr Coates said: “Do you accept that Soleimani was a terrorist, somebody who commissioned terrorist acts against coalition forces from a range of countries?”

The Labour leader responded: “I’m not here to defend special forces of Iran, I’m not here to defend any of those actions that have happened or been planned for the future.

“What I’m saying is the only way forward, if we believe in international law, is to abide by international law.

“This is a provocative act which has made the whole world a much more dangerous place.”

The Sky News Deputy Editor then asked: “But Boris Johnson said at cabinet today he was a terrorist who commissioned acts of terror against the West, US and coalition forces – do you agree with that assessment?”

Mr Corbyn replied: “It’s very odd that Boris Johnson couldn’t be bothered to come to parliament to say that himself, couldn’t be bothered to come and answer questions, couldn’t be bothered to answer my letter until earlier this afternoon on this whole question.

“He is the Prime Minister of this country, he has to be held to account for his own actions by coming to our Parliament to answer questions.”

Mr Coates continued to press Corbyn: “But Soleimani, terrorist, yes or no?”

Mr Corbyn said: “Soleimani is the head of special forces of Iran, they obviously operate in all kinds of places that you and I would not agree with or want.

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“That is not the point. The point is it’s an illegal act that took place and if we want to end illegal acts by anybody, you don’t commit them yourself.”

General Soleimani, 62, was responsible for commanding the Quds force, a unit of the Iranian revolutionary guard which deals with extraterritorial operations.

In the Middle East, where he directed the unit, he was regarded as a military mastermind.

Within Iran, he commanded considerable political influence, with many people considering him second only to the country’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

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