On Sunday, according to a transcript released on his official website, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that “Americans won’t stay in Iraq and Syria and will be expelled.”
Khamenei also added that the actions of Americans in Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria had led them to be hated in the region.
After the assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani on January 3 2020, tensions between the United States and Iran have significantly worsened. Soleimani was considered the second most powerful person in the nation behind the supreme leader.
Khamenei vowed “severe revenge” against the US and in response to the threat as a precautionary measure, the US announced the transfer of an additional 3,000 troops to the Middle East.
On January 7, Iran’s Parliament unanimously passed a bill naming US Armed Forces and employees of The Pentagon “terrorists,” with the bill stating that any form of assistance to these forces “will be considered as cooperation in a terrorist act.” The passing of this bill came after the US designated Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) a “terrorist organization.”
Later that day, Iran launched 12 to 15 missiles to strike multiple US targets located throughout Iran and Iraq. No casualties were reported.
In response, Donald Trump tweeted “All is well! Missiles launched from Iran at two military bases located in Iraq. Assessment of casualties & damages taking place now. So far, so good! We have the most powerful and well equipped military anywhere in the world, by far! I will be making a statement tomorrow morning.”
Iran’s key allies include Iraq, Lebanon and Syria. Iran also has strategic relationships with Russia and Venezuela. However, the relationships outside the region represent a strategic relationship rather than one based on religious and ideologically allegiance
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