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A8 WORLD NEWS
Monday 6 January 2020

Blowback: Iran abandons nuclear limits after US killing

By NASSER KARIMI ment, who hold a majority
JON GAMBRELL of seats. Many Sunni and
ZEINA KARAM Kurdish legislators did not
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — The show up for the session, ap-
blowback over the U.S. kill- parently because they op-
ing of a top Iranian general pose abolishing the deal.
mounted Sunday as Iran Asked shortly before the
announced it is abandon- parliamentary vote wheth-
ing the limits contained in er the U.S. would comply
the 2015 nuclear deal and with an Iraqi government
Iraq's Parliament called for request for American
the expulsion of all Ameri- troops to leave, U.S. Secre-
can troops from Iraqi soil. tary of State Mike Pompeo
The twin developments, if would not answer directly.
they come to pass, could But the added: "It is the
bring Iran closer to build- United States that is pre-
ing an atomic bomb and pared to help the Iraqi
enable the Islamic State people get what it is they
group to stage a come- deserve and continue our
back in Iraq, making the mission there to take down
Middle East a far more terrorism from ISIS and oth-
dangerous and unstable ers in the region."
place. Amid threats of vengeance
Iranian state television cit- Iranian lawmakers chant anti-American and anti-Israeli slogans to protest against the U.S. killing from Iran, the U.S.-led mili-
of Iranian top general Qassem Soleimani, at the start of an open session of parliament in Tehran,
ed a statement by Presi- Iran, Sunday, Jan. 5, 2020. tary coalition in Iraq said
dent Hassan Rouhani's Associated Press Sunday it is putting the bat-
administration saying the tle against IS militants on
country would not observe dad on Friday. Hundreds ised never to allow Iran to Foreign Ministry spokesman hold to focus on protecting
limits on fuel enrichment, of thousands of people produce an atomic bomb. Abbas Mousavi earlier told its own troops and bases. A
on the size of its enriched flooded the streets in the Iran did not elaborate on journalists that Soleimani's U.S. pullout could not only
uranium stockpile and on cities of Ahvaz and Mash- what levels it would im- killing would prompt Iranian allow the Islamic State to
its research and develop- had to walk alongside the mediately reach in its pro- officials to take an even make a comeback but
ment activities. casket of Soleimani, who gram. Tehran has already harsher step away from the could also enable Iran to
"The Islamic Republic of Iran was the architect of Iran's increased its production, nuclear deal. deepen its influence in Iraq,
no longer faces any limita- proxy wars across the Mid- begun enriching uranium "In the world of politics, all which like Iran is a majority-
tions in operations," a state east and was blamed for to 5% and restarted enrich- developments are inter- Shiite country.
TV broadcaster said. the deaths of hundreds of ment at an underground connected," Mousavi said. Meanwhile, in Lebanon,
In Iraq, meanwhile, law- Americans in suicide bomb- facility. In Iraq, Prime Minister Adel the leader of Iran's major
makers voted in favor of ings and other attacks. While it does not posses Abdul-Mahdi said that af- proxy, the militant group
a resolution calling for an Iran insisted that it remains uranium enriched to weap- ter the killing of Soleimani, Hezbollah, said Soleimani's
end of the foreign military open to negotiations with ons-grade levels of 90%, the government has two killing made U.S. military
presence in the country, European partners over its any push forward narrows choices: End the presence bases, warships and service
including the estimated nuclear program. And it the estimated one-year of foreign troops in Iraq or members across the region
5,000 U.S. troops stationed did not back off from ear- "breakout time" needed for restrict their mission to train- fair targets for attacks.
to help battle the Islamic lier promises that it wouldn't it to have enough material ing Iraqi forces. He called A former Revolutionary
State group. The bill is non- seek a nuclear weapon. to build a nuclear weapon for the first option. Guard leader suggested
binding and subject to ap- However, the announce- if it chose to do so. Iraqi officials have de- the Israeli city of Haifa and
proval by the Iraqi govern- ment represents the clear- The International Atomic nounced the airstrike as a centers like Tel Aviv could
ment but has the backing est nuclear proliferation Energy Agency, the United violation of the country's be targeted.
of the outgoing prime min- threat yet made by Iran Nations watchdog observ- sovereignty. Soleimani's killing has es-
ister. since President Donald ing Iran's program, did not The majority of about 180 calated the crisis between
The two decisions capped Trump unilaterally withdrew immediately respond to a legislators present in Par- Tehran and Washington
a day of mass mourning from the accord in May request for comment. How- liament voted in favor of after months of back-and-
over Iranian Maj. Gen. Qa- 2018. It further raises region- ever, Iran said that its coop- the troop-removal resolu- forth attacks and threats
ssem Soleimani, killed in a al tensions, as Iran's long- eration with the IAEA "will tion. It was backed by most that have put the wider
U.S. drone strike in Bagh- time foe Israel has prom- continue as before." Shiite members of Parlia- Middle East on edge. q