Turkish, Iranian top diplomats talk over Soleimani's killing

The Turkish and Iranian foreign ministers spoke over the phone on Jan. 4, state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

Turkey's Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu and his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif discussed the killing of senior Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in a U.S. airstrike in Baghdad, the sources said on condition of anonymity.

Çavuşoğlu had a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on earlier in the day to discuss recent developments in the region. He also held a phone conversation with his South African counterpart Naledi Pandor as well.

The two discussed the latest developments in Syria, Libya, and Iraq, Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency has reported earlier on Jan. 4, citing diplomatic sources.

According to a statement by Russian foreign ministry, Lavrov too spoke with Zarif on Jan. 4.

"Lavrov expressed his condolences over the killing," read the statement said. "The ministers stressed that such actions by the United States grossly violate the norms of international law."

France discusses Middle East tensions with Germany and China

In the meantime, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said he had discussed the situation in the Middle East on Jan. 4 with his German and Chinese counterparts, and added that all three had agreed on the need to avoid any escalation in tensions.

Le Drian said he had held a telephone conversation on Jan. 4 with German foreign minister Heiko Maas and senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi.

"We all noted in particular our agreement in the importance of preserving the stability and sovereignty of Iraq, and the whole of the region in general, as well as the need for Iran to avoid any new violation of the Vienna Agreement," added Le Drian.