Comment: Remember this guy? He's a big deal. He effectively led the Iraqi insurgency against US occupation in the 2000s, and today he's a fierce Iraqi patriot and kingmaker of Iraqi govts...
Influential Iraqi cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has declared the "crisis" between the US and Iran over, following statements from the two countries' leaders in the wake of Tuesday's Iranian strikes on US bases in Iraq.
Al-Sadr made his pronouncement on Wednesday after US President Donald Trump gave a relatively subdued speech praising Iran's restraint. Rather than call for retaliation against Iran over a strike that didn't kill any Americans, Trump merely vowed to impose even more sanctions on the Islamic Republic "until Iran changes its behavior."
Comment: Merely vowed! We presume that was written with tongue firmly planted in cheek.
Iran's President Hassan Rouhani in turn vowed to eventually kick all US troops "out of the region" as the "final answer" to the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani, killed in a US airstrike last week.
Shia religious leader al-Sadr also called on Iraqi militias to be "patient" and not begin any military actions, claiming that a new "strong" government capable of protecting Iraq's sovereignty would be formed in 15 days and hold early elections. However, Iraq should still evict the foreign troops inside its borders, he said.
Comment: Interesting. This series of events is shaking things up in Iraq too.
Comment: UPDATE 9th Jan 21:00 CET
Former Congressman Ron Paul comments on the current state of the situation: RT reports that, although Iran gave the US advanced warning of its intent to strike particular US bases - notably those holding arms, and not troops - a US general is still claiming that Iran was 'shooting to kill': Iraq's Foreign Ministry intends to summon the Iranian ambassador over the missile strikes: In an interview Mike Pence claims that Iran has asked militias not to target Americans - which is odd because Iran has not and never intended to create American casualties: See also: Iran vows to expel US but not kill its soldiers, Trump wants NATO to replace US troops and has suspicions about Ukrainian plane crash