Iran designates all U.S. forces, Pentagon as "terrorists"January 7, 2020 - 13:07 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Iran's parliament passed a bill on Tuesday, January 7 designating all U.S. forces "terrorists"over the killing of a top Iranian military commander in a U.S. strike last week, the Mail Online says. Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm, was killed in a U.S. drone strike outside Baghdad airport on Friday, ratcheting up tensions between the arch-foes. Under the newly adopted bill, all U.S. forces and employees of the Pentagon and affiliated organisations, agents and commanders and those who ordered the 'martyrdom' of Soleimani were designated as terrorists. "Any aid to these forces, including military, intelligence, financial, technical, service or logistical, will be considered as co-operation in a terrorist act," the Iranian parliament said. Lawmakers also voted to bolster by £170million ($224 million) the coffers of the Quds Force - the foreign operations arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards that was headed by Soleimani. The bill was an amended version of a law adopted in April last year that declared the United States a 'state sponsor of terrorism' and its forces in the region "terror groups". Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |