Amid tensions, US State Dept abruptly cancels 2 classified Iran-related briefings

According to International media, US State Department abruptly cancelled two classified congressional briefings related to ongoing crisis with Iran, scheduled for Wednesday without providing any explanation. It was earlier reported that committee was scheduled to receive a briefing on embassy security while Senate Foreign Relations Committee expected to be briefed on ministration's Iran policy and authorities for use of force before last-minute schedule change.

focal point of Wednesday's House briefing was going to about  situation in African country of Burundi but topic was changed to a global assessment of embassy security at request of congressional staff following strike that killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. An aide furr said that request for change of topic was me on January 7.

"This has t been rescheduled. We don't kw why it was cancelled," aide said. 

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Tensions between Iran & US 

longstanding tension between Iran and US surfaced again as Iranian General Qassem Soleimani was slain by US in an airstrike near Iraq's Baghd International Airport, ordered by US President Donald Trump.  

Post this, Iran h threatened "harsh retaliation" and subsequently, two airstrikes were reported near US Embassy in Baghd’s Green Zone on Saturday and Sunday. As per recent reports, a third attack was launched on Thursday as three Katyusha rockets hit  Baghd’s Green Zone.   

Following developments, Trump said that US would strike 52 sites in Islamic Republic if any Americans were harmed. After this, re has been a continuous war of words between officials of two countries.  

In time,  Al-Ass and Ebril airbases in Iraq that house  US and coalition forces were hit by multiple rockets. This incident was first reported by Iranian state TV, who described it as Tehran’s revenge operation over killing of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Gen. Qassem Soleimani.  

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(With Inputs from ANI)

(Im credits: AP)