US and Iran on the brink of war
On 3 January 2020, Qasem Soleimani, head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, was killed by a US airstrike in Iraq.[324] Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “severe revenge” against the United States. Declaring three days of public mourning for the general’s death, Khamenei stated that “harsh retaliation” waited for the U.S.[325] In the aftermath of Soleimani’s killing, the U.S. announced to move over 3,000 additional troops to the Middle East from the 82nd Airborne Division as a precautionary measure amid rising threats from Iran.[326]
On the same day, Switzerland said it had conveyed a U.S. diplomatic message to Iran.[327] Iran said that in the note, the United States had called for a "proportional response" to the killing of the Quds Force leader.[328] In turn, Iran summoned the Swiss envoy[329] and stated that the Americans "made a wrong move and are now worried about its consequences".[328]
On January 7, Iran's Parliament unanimously passed a bill naming all branches of the US Armed Forces and employees of The Pentagon "terrorists". The bill states "Any aid to these forces, including military, intelligence, financial, technical, service or logistical, will be considered as cooperation in a terrorist act".[330][331][332]
On 3 January 2020, Qasem Soleimani, head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, was killed by a US airstrike in Iraq.[324] Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vowed “severe revenge” against the United States. Declaring three days of public mourning for the general’s death, Khamenei stated that “harsh retaliation” waited for the U.S.[325] In the aftermath of Soleimani’s killing, the U.S. announced to move over 3,000 additional troops to the Middle East from the 82nd Airborne Division as a precautionary measure amid rising threats from Iran.[326]
On the same day, Switzerland said it had conveyed a U.S. diplomatic message to Iran.[327] Iran said that in the note, the United States had called for a "proportional response" to the killing of the Quds Force leader.[328] In turn, Iran summoned the Swiss envoy[329] and stated that the Americans "made a wrong move and are now worried about its consequences".[328]
On January 7, Iran's Parliament unanimously passed a bill naming all branches of the US Armed Forces and employees of The Pentagon "terrorists". The bill states "Any aid to these forces, including military, intelligence, financial, technical, service or logistical, will be considered as cooperation in a terrorist act".[330][331][332]