Newsclick’s Prabir Purkayastha talks about the blatant provocation by the US in assassinating Major General Qassem Soleimani.

Anti-war protests were held across the US and UK over the weekend in response to the targeted assassination of Qassem Soleimani, commander of Iran’s Al-Quds forces.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corp seized the UK-flagged ship, Stena Impero, accusing it of being in violation of international maritime rules. The vessel allegedly hit a fishing boat and ignored the distress signal

The sanctions on Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei and the leadership of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corp may be largely symbolic in nature but upcoming measures against foreign minister Javad Zarif could hit attempts at talks

This was immediately followed by US president Trump ordering an attack on several military targets in Iranian territory, only to be abruptly called off at the last minute.

This marks a gradual withdrawal from a provision of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). As per the agreement, not complying with certain sections is allowed in case one or more signatories withdraws from the deal.

Faced with ruthless US sanctions, Iran has decided to resume storage of enriched uranium and heavy water. US sanctions ban the export of these materials, which was originally allowed under the JCPOA

US president Donald Trump recently announced the country’s decision to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organisation.