Iran Parliament approved anti-US bill

Iranian lawmakers on Sunday overwhelmingly voted to approve a bill aimed at countering Washington's adventurous and terrorist activities in the region.

The bill secured 240 yes votes and one abstention.

A total of 247 lawmakers were present at the parliament session.

The legislation is a reaction to a bill ratified recently in the US Senate allowing Washington to impose non-nuclear sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

According to the bill submitted to the Majlis Presiding Board, the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defense, Intelligence, as well as the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), the IRGC Quds Force, and the Islamic Republic Army, based on their hierarchy and in coordination with the Iranian Supreme National Security Council, are obliged to, within a period of six months following the ratification of the bill, devise a comprehensive strategic plan to counter the US threats.

The plan should be aimed at addressing the US bullies and threats against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Washington's hegemonic, terrorist and divisive policies, its illegal military and security interferences in the region, and the US military and intelligence support of terrorism and extremism.

The bill also urges the above-said ministries and military bodies to annually report to the Majlis on the implementation of their plans.

The bill also, with regard to the US overt and covert military and intelligence support for terrorist groups and the confession made by some US officials, including US former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton, that the Washington is behind the formation and propping up of Daesh (ISIS), recognizes the US forces in the region, both military and intelligence, as promoters of terrorism.

Therefore, the following entities won't be granted a visa to enter Iran, and they are not going to be allowed to do any transactions at the Iranian banks, while their accounts will be blocked and their properties in Iran will be confiscated:

1. US military and security organizations and their commanders who have provided effective financial, intelligence, military, logistic and training backing for the terrorists in the region, especially those of Daesh and al-Nusra Front.

2. US entities involved in the above-mentioned activities.

3. US entities involved in organizing, financing, leading or committing terrorist actions against Iran.

4. US entities who, directly or indirectly, support the Mujahedin Khalg Organization (MKO) terrorists or similar extremist terrorist groups, such as Daesh and al-Nusra Front, and give them financial, political, cultural, military, and propagandistic aids.

5. US entities who support state terrorism, including the Zionists' regional terrorist activities, targeting the Palestinian people in the Occupied Lands and Lebanon, and those who play a significant role in such activities.

In order to fight terrorism, the bill also allots 2.5 billion dollars to the IRGC Quds Force.

According to the bill, the Iranian government can provide support for individuals who disclose US illegal actions and violations of human rights by Washington.

The Ministry of Defense is responsible to provide weapons needed to defend the country with the priority given to domestic military hardware, but the ministry can seek help from other countries if necessary, the bill says.