8 Jan 2020

Killing of Soleimani 'reckless' - Former Defence Minister

From Summer Report, 8:16 am on 8 January 2020

The former New Zealand Defence Minister, Wayne Mapp, says the killing of Soleimani was reckless, but he doubts it will lead to a major global conflict.

New Zealand still has around 50 military personnel based in Iraq, where tensions are high after the drone strike which killed Soleimani as he left Baghdad Airport in a convoy last week.

Iraq's Parliament has voted to expel US troops from the country but it's unclear what this will mean for the Kiwis stationed there. RNZ reporter Matthew Theunissen asked Dr Mapp what the fallout from the assassination spells for New Zealand's relationship with Iran.