New Delhi/Washington, Jan 8 (TIWN) The crisis in the Middle East may deescalate if the US suffered no casualties in the retaliatory strikes that Iran launched against two American military bases in Iraq on Monday. Tehran has provided no proof of any American casualties yet.

To avenge the killing of its Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Qasem Soleimani in a targeted US airstrike, Tehran on Monday claimed that it retaliated proportionately. Incidentally, around 50 people were killed in a stampede during Soleimani's funeral which was attended by thousands in Tehran.  Iran's Foreign Minister in a tweet said, "Iran took & concluded proportionate measures in self-defence under Article 51 of UN Charter targeting base from which cowardly armed attack against our citizens & senior officials were launched."  However, he added that Iran did "not seek escalation or war, but will defend ourselves against any aggression."