US – Iran Relations

• 16 May 2019

Relevance of the News: The news highlights the growing instability and hostility between US and Iran and the possibility of an armed conflict between the two.

Why is it in News?

The US on 15^th May instructed all non-emergency staff to pull out of its embassy in Baghdad, Iraq and consulate in Arbil as tensions between the US and Iran is rising. Arbil is the Iraqi Kurdish regional capital, in northern Iraq.

• The US advisory announced the partial embassy closures and warned of possible attacks by the numerous terrorist and insurgent groups active in Iraq which could threaten US citizens and Western companies in Iraq.
• Iran has a strong influence in Iraq, especially in the country's Shiite-majority south.
• Meanwhile US has warned that it would respond with "unrelenting force" to any attack by Iran, including by its regional allies.
• US had announced that it would be sending several massive, nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the region.
• On 12^th May mysterious attacks by unknown assailants against four ships in the region, including two from Saudi Arabia, have already increased tensions in the region.
• However, this week both US and Iran have ruled out any possible military conflict between the two.