US condemns assassination of Iraqi researcher al-Hashemi, says Pompeo

The US strongly condemns the assassination of the Iraqi researcher Hisham al-Hashemi, who had written about politics, ISIS, and the role of Iran-backed militias in Iraq, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said.

Pompeo on Wednesday also urged the UN Security Council to extend an arms embargo on Iran and said the US and partner forces last month seized a vessel carrying arms to Houthi rebels in Yemen.

“The Security Council must extend the arms embargo on Iranto prevent further conflict in the region,” Pompeo told a State
Department news conference.

“No serious person can possibly believe Iran will use any weapon it receives for peaceful ends.”