Jump to content

U.S. to designate elite Iranian force as terrorist organization


Recommended Posts

Posted

U.S. to designate elite Iranian force as terrorist organization

By Phil Stewart, Lesley Wroughton and Steve Holland

 

800x800.jpg

Members of the Iranian revolutionary guard march during a parade to commemorate the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq war (1980-88), in Tehran September 22, 2011. REUTERS/Stringer/Files

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is expected to designate Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards Corps a foreign terrorist organization, three U.S. officials told Reuters, marking the first time Washington has formally labelled another country's military a terrorist group.

 

The decision, which critics warn could open U.S. military and intelligence officials to similar actions by unfriendly governments abroad, is expected to be announced by the U.S. State Department, perhaps as early as Monday, the officials said. It has been rumoured for years.

 

The Pentagon declined comment and referred queries to the State Department. The State Department and White House also declined to comment.

 

The Iranian mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a strident Iran hawk, has advocated for the change in U.S. policy as part of the Trump administration's tough posture toward Tehran.

 

The announcement would come ahead of the first anniversary of President Donald Trump's decision to pull out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran and to reimpose sanctions that had crippled Iran's economy.

 

The administration's decision to make the designation was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

 

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

 

In 2007, the U.S. Treasury designated the IRGC's Quds Force, its unit in charge of operations abroad, "for its support of terrorism," and has described it as Iran's "primary arm for executing its policy of supporting terrorist and insurgent groups."

 

Iran has warned of a "crushing" response should the United States go ahead with the designation.

 

IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari warned in 2017 that if Trump went ahead with the move "then the Revolutionary Guards will consider the American army to be like Islamic State all around the world."

 

Such threats are particularly ominous for U.S. forces in places such as Iraq, where Iran-aligned Shi'ite militia are located in close proximity to U.S. troops.

 

Republican Senator Ben Sasse said the move would be an important step in America's maximum pressure campaign against Tehran. "A formal designation and its consequences may be new, but these IRGC butchers have been terrorists for a long time," Sasse said in a statement.

 

Former Under-Secretary of State and lead Iran negotiator, Wendy Sherman, said she worried about implications for U.S. forces.

 

"One might even suggest, since it's hard to see why this is in our interest, if the president isn't looking for a basis for a conflict," said Sherman, who is director of the Centre for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School. "The IRGC is already fully sanctioned and this escalation absolutely endangers our troops in the region."

 

IRGC'S REACH

 

Set up after the 1979 Islamic Revolution to protect the Shi'ite clerical ruling system, the IRGC is Iran's most powerful security organization. It has control over large sectors of the Iranian economy and has a huge influence in its political system.

 

The IRGC is in charge of Iran's ballistic missiles and nuclear programs. Tehran has warned that it has missiles with a range of up to 2,000 km (1,242 miles), putting Israel and U.S. military bases in the region within reach.

 

The IRGC has an estimated 125,000-strong military with army, navy and air units and answers to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

 

It is unclear what impact the U.S. designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization might have on America's activities in countries that have ties with Tehran, including in Iraq.

 

Baghdad has deep cultural and economic ties with Iran and Oman, where the United States recently clinched a strategic ports deal.

 

reuters_logo.jpg

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-04-06

Posted
1 hour ago, nausea said:

When was the last time the Iranians attacked a Western target - I mean like a mass shooting, or a bombing, or a hostage situation - in the West. I, personally, don't feel threatened by the Iranians at all. But some people feel very threatened and I'm guessing a third force is at at work here.

I have learned so much from stuyding the history of dormant forces that attacked suddenly without warning. It certainly is educational.

  • Like 1
Posted
38 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Iranian Revolutionary Guards General Hossein Hamedani was killed near Aleppo while advising the Syrian army on their battle against Islamic State fighters. 

Just to save their dear friend, Assad. 

No favor to humanity or other nations. 

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Posted (edited)
57 minutes ago, The Theory said:

Just to save their dear friend, Assad. 

No favor to humanity or other nations. 

You are right, no favor, only self interest. Same as the USA, Turkey, etc...

But, you know, the enemy of my enemy.....

Edited by candide
  • Haha 1
Posted

The pot calling the kettle black??

 

However I agree with Dexterm that Trump is just trying to deflect attention from his mounting problems at home.

  • Like 1
  • Haha 1
Guest Jerry787
Posted

We shall call the present us policies and force involved terrorist as venezuela, siria, isis, iraq, vietnam, nicaragua, chile and the list its long,  
US hypocrisy ...

Posted

The US has turned out to be the largest, most aggressive terrorist group on the planet and people are catching on to it. Just cuz the US says so doesn't make it true.

Posted (edited)
21 hours ago, brokenbone said:

the name calling is going to backfire on not just trump

but all branches of US military, and US itself.

The part of backfire already happened years ago, nobody believes the US since Iraq.
They failed hard trying to illegally take over Syria and now all focus is on Iran again, too predictable.

Edited by tabarin
  • Like 1
Posted

 Another triumph for Trump's anti Iranian policy:

 

Exclusive: Egypt withdraws from U.S.-led anti-Iran security initiative - sources

 

"Egypt has pulled out of the U.S. effort to forge an “Arab NATO” with key Arab allies, according to four sources familiar with the decision, in a blow to the Trump administration’s strategy to contain Iranian power.

Egypt conveyed its decision to the United States and other participants in the proposed Middle East Strategic Alliance, or MESA, ahead of a meeting held Sunday in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, one source said...

Egypt withdrew because it doubted the seriousness of the initiative, had yet to see a formal blueprint laying it out, and because of the danger that the plan would increase tensions with Iran, said an Arab source who, like the others, spoke on condition of anonymity."

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-mesa-egypt-exclusive/exclusive-egypt-withdraws-from-u-s-led-anti-iran-security-initiative-sources-idUSKCN1RM2WU

  • Thanks 1
Posted
1 hour ago, bristolboy said:

 Another triumph for Trump's anti Iranian policy:

 

Exclusive: Egypt withdraws from U.S.-led anti-Iran security initiative - sources

 

"Egypt has pulled out of the U.S. effort to forge an “Arab NATO” with key Arab allies, according to four sources familiar with the decision, in a blow to the Trump administration’s strategy to contain Iranian power.

Egypt conveyed its decision to the United States and other participants in the proposed Middle East Strategic Alliance, or MESA, ahead of a meeting held Sunday in Riyadh, the Saudi capital, one source said...

Egypt withdrew because it doubted the seriousness of the initiative, had yet to see a formal blueprint laying it out, and because of the danger that the plan would increase tensions with Iran, said an Arab source who, like the others, spoke on condition of anonymity."

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-mesa-egypt-exclusive/exclusive-egypt-withdraws-from-u-s-led-anti-iran-security-initiative-sources-idUSKCN1RM2WU

À simplified explanation for Trumpist members (in case they would like to understand):

- Iran government is Shia

- the current Egyptian government has problems with Sunni terrorists

- Iran fights Sunni terrorists

- the Egyptian government has no interest in fighting Iran.

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.


  • Topics

  • Latest posts...

    1. 0

      U.S. Senators Introduce Legislation to Counter UN Actions Against Israel

    2. 0

      Essex Police Under Scrutiny for Domestic Abuse Failures Amid Investigation of Allison Pears

    3. 0

      Accusations of Hypocrisy as Private Jet use Doubles Travelling to Cop29

    4. 0

      Council Tax Bills to Increase by Over £100 in April Amid Cap Freeze

    5. 0

      Elon Musk Embraces New Role as the ‘George Soros of the Right’ Alongside Trump

    6. 0

      Arrest of Suspected Serial Killer in France Sparks Outrage Over Immigration Policies

    7. 0

      Europe’s Right-Wing Leaders Reframe Climate Action to Fit a Nationalist Agenda

  • Popular in The Pub


×
×
  • Create New...