Simmering Tensions Explode Between U.S. and Iran

Garrett Nagode, Staff writer|January 13, 2020

Tensions+between+the+U.S+and+Iran+have+increased+since+the+killing+of+Iranian+general+Qasem+Soleimani.

Erfan Kouchari

Tensions between the U.S and Iran have increased since the killing of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani.

Tensions between Iran and the United States have increased after the U.S airstrike on Jan. 3  that killed Iranian Major General Qassem Soleimani and the Iranian ballistic missile counter-strike.

As response to the death of Soleimani, there was an Iranian missile attack on Iraqi Military bases, Al Asad and Erbil on Jan. 8. The attack did not result in any deaths or injury to any American or Iraqi troops, although Iranian State Television falsely reported statements that there were casualties at the military bases.

In April 2019,  the U.S. declared the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a foreign terrorist organization, which makes it illegal for any possible nation to provide material support to the group. In response, the Iranian State Media reported that Iran’s parliament passed a bill that described the U.S. Military and Pentagon terrorist entities to the State of Iran. The same night of the hit on Quassam Soleimani, US Special Forces was ordered to kill another top-ranking Iranian military general. The order was then canceled, and put on hold for a possible later date.

America’s House of Representatives passed a resolution to prohibit U.S. President Donald Trump from engaging in any Iranian dealings under the 1973 War Powers Resolution — which is sponsored by Congresswomen Elissa Slotkin. Congressional disapproval of the military missile strike led to the resolution; it calls for congressional approval before using armed forces.

On Wednesday, Trump threatened to impose new sanctions against Iran but proceeded to back down after Iran launched missiles at two military bases that are housing U.S. troops. “I’m pleased to inform you, the American people should be extremely grateful and happy. No Americans were harmed in last night’s attack by the Iranian regime,” the President said in an address to the nation from the White House on Wednesday. “We suffered no casualties, all of our soldiers are safe and only minimal damage was sustained at our military bases.” Currently, both nations have taken a step back from aggression to ease tensions.