Iran drops 2015 nuclear deal over the killing of Soleimani

The Iranian government says it will no longer stand by a 2015 long-term agreement on its nuclear programme. 

This decision comes after Qasem Soleimani, a top military commander in Iran, was killed by the US in an airstrike at the Baghdad International Airport.

The government, in statement on Sunday, said the country would no longer observe limitations on uranium enrichment, stockpiles of enriched uranium or nuclear research and development. 

The deal was agreed in 2015 with a group known as the P5+1 – the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany.

It was agreed after years of tension over Iran’s alleged efforts to develop a nuclear weapon. 

Under the accord, Iran agreed to limit its sensitive nuclear activities. 

The government, however, noted that the decision could be reversed if US lifted its sanctions on Iran. 

In a similar development, Iraq’s parliament also urged its leaders to expel US troops from the country. 

In an emergency session of the Iraqi parliament on Sunday, lawmakers voted in favour of a resolution asking the government to expel US troops. 

“The government commits to revoke its request for assistance from the international coalition fighting ‘Islamic State’ due to the end of military operations in Iraq and the achievement of victory. The Iraqi government must work to end the presence of any foreign troops on Iraqi soil and prohibit them from using its land, airspace or water for any reason,” the resolution read.

The US had stationed its troops in the country to help fight the Islamic State insurgency. 

Since the killing of Soleimani, Iran and the US have been in a war of words. 

While Iran said it has identified 35 US targets for retaliatory strikes, responding, the US warned against Iran’s threat, saying it has spent $2 trillion on new weapons, and would hit 52 Iranian targets.