Iranian Missiles Strike Near US Consulate in Iraq

Iran claimed responsibility for a missile strike that hit near the US consulate in Northern Iraq.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) claimed responsibility for a missile strike near the US consulate in Irbil in Northern Iraq.

Iran claimed the strike on Erbil, Iraq’s Kurdish capital, was targeting “Israeli strategic centers” as retribution for an Israeli airstrike in Syria on Monday that killed two IRGC members.
The Kurdish interior ministry said twelve ballistic missiles struck near the compound, originating from Iran’s territory. Attacks on US forces emanating from Iran itself are rare.
No injuries were reported. A State Department spokesman declared, “We condemn this outrageous attack and display of violence” and said the Iraqi government would investigate the incident.
The IRGC is a powerful institution in Iranian politics and was designated as a foreign terrorist organization in 2019.

The New York Times’ coverage included claims from Iraqi media affiliated with the Iranians that the true target was two secret Israeli intelligence bases in Erbil, not the consulate as Kurdish and US officials claimed.
CNBC’s reporting included more background on Iran’s operations against the US in Iraq, including a 2020 airstrike that injured more than 100 US personnel and attacks by Iran-backed militias based in Iraq.
The Washington Post reported the Iran nuclear talks have halted after Russia demanded any sanctions imposed on it for its invasion of Ukraine carry exceptions for future Russia-Iran commercial dealings.

The Wall Street Journal reported the US won’t negotiate Ukraine-related sanctions with Russia to save the Iran nuclear deal and will seek an alternative agreement with Iran if Russia’s demands for sanctions exemptions for Russia-Iran trade aren’t withdrawn.
Fox News spoke with US officials who confirmed there were no casualties either among US personnel or civilians in the area. This was the first time Iran has launched missiles at a US target in Iraq since January 2020, when Iran retaliated for the US drone strike that killed Iranian Lt. Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
National Review argued any new Iran Deal would likely be temporary, as Republicans would kill the deal as soon as they get a chance. However, under the terms the Biden Administration is negotiating, Iran could gain up to $130.5 billion (not a typo) in sanctions relief immediately. The deal would only delay Iran’s ability to get a nuclear weapon by about six months.

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