The US on Monday designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps a foreign “terrorist” organisation, an unprecedented declaration against a foreign government that may prompt retaliation and make it harder for American diplomats and military officers to work with allies in the region.
It is the first time that the US has designated an entity ofanother government as a “terrorist” organization, placing a group with vasteconomic resources that answers only to Iran’s supreme leader in the samecategory as al-Qaida and the Islamic State.
“This unprecedented step, led by the Department ofState, recognizes the reality 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,” President Donald Trump said in announcing themeasure.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the designation isintended to increase pressure on Iran, isolating it further and diverting someof the financial resources it uses to fund terrorism and militant activity inthe Middle East and beyond.
But, in addition to the potential for Iranian retaliation,it complicates a delicate balance for US personnel in at least two keycountries.
No waivers or exceptions to the sanctions were announced,meaning US troops and diplomats could be barred from contact with Iraqi orLebanese authorities who interact with Guard officials or surrogates.
The Pentagon and US intelligence agencies had also raisedconcerns about the impact of the designation if the move did not allow contactwith other foreign officials who may have met with or communicated with Guardpersonnel.
Those concerns have in part dissuaded previousadministrations from taking the step, which has been considered for more than adecade.
Critics of the hardline policy also see it as a prelude toconflict.
“This move closes yetanother potential door for peacefully resolving tensions with Iran,” saidTrita Parsi, the founder of the National Iranian American Council. “Once all doors are closed, and diplomacy isrendered impossible, war will essentially become inevitable.”
The designation could also open hundreds of foreigncompanies and business executives to US travel bans and possible prosecutionfor sanctions violations.
It blocks any assets that IRGC entities may have in USjurisdictions and bars Americans from any transactions with it. When it takeseffect next week, it will allow the US to deny entry to people found to haveprovided the Guard with “material support”or prosecute them for sanctions violations. That could include European andAsian companies and business people who deal with the Guard’s many affiliates.
“It makes crystal clearthe risks of conducting business with, or providing support to, the IRGC,” Trumpsaid. “If you are doing business with theIRGC, you will be bankrolling “terrorism”.
Pompeo said the action should serve as a warning tocorporate lawyers to ensure any business their companies do in Iran is not withany entity affiliated with the Guard.
“If you’re the generalcounsel for a European financial institution today, there is more risk,” hesaid.
The IRGC is a paramilitary organization formed in the wakeof Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution to defend the government. The force answersonly to Iran’s supreme leader, operates independently of the regular militaryand has vast economic interests across the country.
The US estimates it may control or have a significantinfluence over up to 50 per cent of the Iranian economy, including non-militarysectors like banking and shipping.
The State Department currently designates more than 60organisations as “foreign terroristorganisations.” But none of them is a state-run military.
Iran immediately responded to the designation with itsSupreme National Security Council designating the US Central Command, alsoknown as CENTCOM, and all its forces as terrorist, and labeling the US asupporter of terrorism.
The Council denounced the U.S. Decision as illegal anddangerous and said the US government would be responsible for all dangerousrepercussions of its decision.
It defended the IRGC, which has fought Islamic Statefighters, as being a force against terrorism.
“Thank you, my dearfriend, US President Donald Trump,” Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu said in a tweet, a day before what could be a close election. “Thankyou for answering another of my important requests that serves the interests ofour countries and of countries in the region.”