TerrorismU.S. designates Iran's Revolutionary Guards as “foreign terrorist organization”

The United States has designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) a foreign terrorist organization, U.S. President Donald Trump said on 8 April.

Washington will continue to increase financial pressure and raise the costs on Iran “for its support of terrorist activity,” Trump said in a statement.

“This unprecedented step, led by the Department of State, recognizes that Iran is not only a State Sponsor of Terrorism, but that the IRGC actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft.,” a statement from Trump’s press secretary said.

“We will continue to increase financial pressure and raise the costs on the Iranian regime for its support of terrorist activity until it abandons its malign and outlaw behavior.”

The United States has already blacklisted tens of entities and people for affiliations with the IRGC, but not the organization as a whole.

“This designation will be the first time that the United States has ever named a part of another government as an FTO [foreign terrorist organization],” Trump said.

“It underscores the fact that Iran’s actions are fundamentally different from those of other governments.”

Critics have warned that such a step could open U.S. military and intelligence officials to similar actions by unfriendly countries.

On 7 April, Iranian officials reacted angrily after Trump’s intention was first reported by U.S. media.

IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari said the U.S. military will lose the security it enjoys in the region if Washington carries through with the designation.

“With this stupidity, the American army and security forces will no longer have today’s calm in the west Asia region,” Jafari was quoted as saying by the IRGC-affiliated Fars news agency.

Earlier, Iranian deputies said they will take reciprocal action against the United States.

“We will answer any action taken against [the IRGC] with reciprocal action,” said a statement signed by 255 of the 290 Iranian parliamentarians, the state news agency IRNA reported on 7 April.

The U.S. currently designates some sixty groups around the world as foreign terrorist organizations, but none of them is a state-run military like the IRGC.

The designation will mean that sanctions would be imposed on the IRGC, including a freeze on assets that it may have in U.S. jurisdictions. It will also ban Americans from doing business it in any way or giving it material support.

The IRGC was established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran. It is the country’s most powerful security organization and exerts a strong influence over much of the Iranian economy and political system.