After the assassination of Iranian General Qassem Soleimani on January 3, many feared a major war would break out in the Middle East. Iran’s retaliation came quickly but it did not provoke a conflict
United States Events
Rockets fall inside Baghdad Green Zone
Three Katyusha rockets on January 21 struck the Green Zone in central Baghdad where many government buildings and foreign missions are located, Iraqi police sources told Reuters
Ahmed Foruzandeh – general who ran Solemani’s spies guns and assassins
They’re the Quds Force officers who tracked and killed Iraqis working with the U.S.-led coalition, hunted those deemed hostile to Iranian influence through a council of assassins, and smuggled the spies, money, weapons, and secrets into Iraq that sowed chaos across the country during the American occupation
Turkey pledges enhanced ties with Iran after U.S. imposes sanctions
Turkey’s government pledged to enhance cooperation with Iran to help resolve problems in the region less than two weeks after the United States imposed tougher economic sanctions
Iran expands support for Taliban targets U.S. troops in Afghanistan
Escalating U.S.-Iran tensions mean Afghanistan, which shares a border with Iran, could be the next proxy battleground between Washington and Tehran, a clash that threatens to undermine the Trump administration’s pursuit of a peace deal with the Taliban and eventual drawdown of American troops
Iraq bank says will stop handling Iran gas deals if U.S. waiver ends
Iraq can face serious problems later in the year if the United States does not renew an exemption for Iraq from its sanctions to buy Iranian gas
Eight countries back European-Led naval mission in Strait Of Hormuz
Eight European Union member states have given their support for a European-led maritime surveillance mission in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route for world oil supplies
Iranian MP announces award for anyone who killed US President Donald Trump
An Iranian lawmaker offered a $3 million reward to anyone who killed US President Donald Trump and said Iran could avoid threats if it had nuclear arms, ISNA news agency reported on Tuesday amid Tehran’s latest standoff with Washington
Two rockets land near U.S. embassy in Baghdad
Two rockets have landed near the US embassy in Baghdad located in the heavily fortified Green Zone of the Iraqi capital, according to security sources
U.S. Government officials and experts warn of Iran cyber threat
Cybersecurity researchers and U.S. government officials said hackers linked to Iran are probing American companies for vulnerabilities
Iran threatens to quit Non-Proliferation Treaty
Iran threatened on Monday it could quit the global nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) if European countries refer it to the UN Security Council over the 2015 nuclear agreement, Reuters reports
