Iran designates US army as ‘terrorist organisation’ after Soleimani's killing

In latest development in US-Iran deteriorating relations, Iranian parliament approved a motion to designate US Military and Pentagon as ‘terrorist organisations’. Iran’s private news ncy reported that designation is in response to assassination of ir top military commander Qassem Soleimani.

Last year, United States h designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO). Trump ministration said that IRGC actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft.

“ IRGC is Iranian government’s primary means of directing and implementing its global terrorist campaign,” White House h said in a statement.

designation of US forces as ‘terrorist organisation’ is expected to furr escalate tensions and worsen relationships between two countries. Iran has alrey me an exit from 2015 nuclear deal to retaliate against actions of US and anunced to speed up its uranium enrichment programme. While rth Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) chief Jens Stoltenberg’s warned Iran against ‘furr violence and provocations’, Iran has turned a deaf ear to calls for restraint. 

Re: Turkey Working For De-escalation, Says 'in Touch With US, Iran'

Visa denied to Iran's minister

In ugly turn of events, United States has also denied a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Jav Zarif meant for attending a United Nations Security Council (UNSC) meeting in New York on December 9. Iranian Foreign Minister has accused US President Donald Trump of violating international law and contempt for UN Charter and wanted to raise issue in meeting.

While several world leers have been walking a diplomatic tightrope on US-Iran tensions, China has held United States responsible for escalation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that decision of Trump ministration to unilaterally withdraw from 2015 nuclear deal is primary cause of nuclear tension.

Re: China Says US Unilateral Withdrawal From Nuclear Deal Led To Escalation

On January 3, United States anunced that it killed Qasem Soleimani in a drone strike at Baghd’s international airport. Trump said that United States terminated him because he was plotting “imminent and sinister attacks on American diplomats and military personnel”. In a televised briefing, he ded that Iran’s top commander me death of incent people his “sick passion”, contributing to terrorist plots as far away as New Delhi and London. Iran’s Supreme Leer has vowed to exact “severe revenge for criminals who bloodied ir foul hands with his blood”.

Re: Soleimani's Daughter Threatens US Of 'dark Days' After Far's Death

Re: US Denies Visa To Iran's Foreign Minister To Attend UN Meeting

(With inputs from ncies)