Iran’s president signs bill labeling US troops in Middle East as terrorists

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday signed a bill labeling all U.S. troops in the Middle East as terrorists, according to Reuters.

Iranian lawmakers last week passed the legislation as a form of retaliation after President Trump designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a “foreign terrorist organization,” Reuters noted.

{mosads}Rouhani on Tuesday ordered Iran’s ministries of intelligence and foreign affairs, armed forces and supreme national security council to enforce the law, the news service added, citing Iranian state media.

Iranian lawmakers earlier this month warned they would take “reciprocal action” against the U.S. if Trump designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group.

“We will answer any action taken against this force with a reciprocal action. So the leaders of America, who themselves are the creators and supporters of terrorists in the (Middle East) region, will regret this inappropriate and idiotic action,” hundreds of lawmakers said in a statement one day before Trump announced his decision.

Iran’s response is the latest move in what has been a contentious relationship between Tehran and the U.S. under Trump.

Trump last year withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal, which lifted sanctions on Tehran in exchange for limits on its nuclear program. Trump has since reimposed sanctions on the country.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration also announced it would not renew waivers that allowed several foreign countries to purchase oil from Iran without facing sanctions.