Listing the IRGC as a Terrorist Group: A Boost for Iran’s Democrats

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The international community has once again found itself at a crossroads with Iran, as Masoud Pezeshkian steps into the presidency following the death of Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash. Despite some branding Pezeshkian as a reformist or moderate, his loyalty to the Supreme Leader and adherence to the Islamic Republic's hard-line policies suggest otherwise. This development is a clear sign of the regime’s desperation, aiming to project an image of reform while maintaining its repressive grip.

 

The Iranian regime is visibly rattled and weak, which is why they have permitted a so-called “reformer” to assume the presidency. This political maneuver should not deceive Western democracies. The Iranian people desire democracy and freedom, and it is imperative for the international community to stand with them and intensify pressure on the regime.

 

For over forty years, the Islamic Republic has exported its radical revolution through hostage-taking, assassination attempts, and terrorist attacks, activities not unfamiliar to the people of Britain. The recent designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group by the Canadian Government is a welcome move. Britain now has an opportunity to take the lead in Europe.

 

During my meetings with elected officials across the continent, it is evident there is a growing consensus on the need to hold the Iranian regime accountable for its crimes. David Lammy’s leadership on this issue and Labour’s clear commitment offer hope for an early move by the new Government. Such a step would send a powerful message to both the weakening regime and the long-suffering Iranian people.

 

The case against the IRGC is clear and overwhelming. It actively promotes terrorism domestically and internationally, funding and supporting groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis. It also aids the Russian invasion of Ukraine with drones and arms. On British soil, the IRGC is responsible for numerous attacks and attempted kidnappings targeting journalists, dissidents, and officials. Furthermore, it spreads extremist Islamic ideology through a network of schools, charities, and mosques in the UK.

 

In Iran, the IRGC has brutally suppressed, executed, and tortured courageous individuals in the Women, Life, Freedom movement. The UK Government’s argument that listing the IRGC as a terrorist organization would cut off dialogue with Tehran is unfounded, as Britain maintains an active embassy in Tehran. Moreover, decades of appeasement and containment have only emboldened the regime and harmed British interests.

 

The regime is perilously close to developing a nuclear bomb, which would severely limit options for intervention. Some argue that sanctioning a branch of another nation's military sets a dangerous precedent. However, this reflects a fundamental misunderstanding of the IRGC, whose mission extends beyond Iran's defense to the global export of the Islamic Revolution.

 

Despite its recent aggressive posturing, the regime is fragile and divided. The Iranian people have increasingly turned against it, as evidenced by the widespread boycotts of its sham elections. Signs of defections within the armed forces are becoming more apparent, suggesting that change is inevitable and may occur sooner than anticipated.

 

There is a viable alternative to both appeasement and military action: supporting the Iranian people's fight for democracy. Western democracies can adopt a policy of maximum support, akin to the strategies that helped dismantle apartheid in South Africa and communist regimes in Eastern Europe. Iranians deserve similar backing.

 

Listing the IRGC as a terrorist group should be the first, but crucial, step in a broader effort to support the Iranian people. They are fighting for an Iran characterized not by terrorism and chaos, but by peaceful cooperation and productive relations with the world. Imagine a democratic, secular Iran at peace with its neighbors, an economic powerhouse fostering regional prosperity and stability. This vision is achievable. With the international community's support, the Iranian people can realize this dream sooner and at a lower cost.

 

Credit: Daily Telegraph 2024-07-16

 

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