Canada Declares IRGC a 'Terrorist Organization'; Kanani: We Reserve the Right to Respond

The Canadian government has officially designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a 'terrorist organization' and urged its citizens to leave Iran. Following this action, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on social media platform X: 'The IRGC is now on Canada's list of terrorist groups.' According to Fars News Agency, Nasser Kanani, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, condemned Canada's decision, stating: 'This disgusting action has no effect on the legitimate power and deterrence of the IRGC and the increase of its authority.' He added that 'we reserve our rights to a proportional and reciprocal response.' Kanani described Canada's decision as 'a hostile act and contrary to accepted principles of international law, including the equality of sovereign states and non-interference in internal affairs, constituting an infringement on Iran's national sovereignty.' He strongly condemned the action, claiming that the IRGC is 'a governing institution arising from the Iranian people.' This claim comes despite the fact that Iranian citizens have had no say in the establishment or continuation of the IRGC's armed group, and protesters have repeatedly chanted slogans such as 'Basij, IRGC, you are our ISIS' during nationwide protests. On Wednesday, June 30, Dominic LeBlanc, Canada's Minister of Public Safety, stated in a press conference that the government has decided to classify the IRGC as a terrorist organization 'under criminal regulations.' He accused the Islamic Republic of 'supporting terrorism,' violating human rights 'inside and outside Iran,' and 'seeking to destabilize the rules-based international order.' LeBlanc told reporters: 'Canada will use all possible tools to combat the terrorist actions of the IRGC.' He added that the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization is based on 'very strong and convincing evidence.' In response to why Canada's action took so long, he clarified that the decision to label the IRGC as terrorist was made based on 'law and recommendations from security agencies' and is not the result of political pressure. After Canada declared the IRGC a terrorist organization, the country's Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, noted that Ottawa had cut diplomatic relations with Tehran several years ago and advised Canadians to refrain from traveling to Iran. She added: 'For those currently in Iran, the time has come to return home.' Opposition representatives in the Canadian Parliament have long called for the IRGC to be placed on the list of terrorist organizations, but Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's Liberal government had previously rejected the implementation of this action, stating that it would have 'unintended consequences.' However, Trudeau mentioned last December during a memorial for the victims of the downed Ukrainian plane that his government was looking for ways to add the IRGC to the terrorist list. He stated: 'We know we need to do more to hold the Iranian regime accountable, and we will continue to do this, including seeking ways to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization.' Families of the victims have been urging the Canadian government for the past four years to declare the IRGC a terrorist group. In response, the Association of Families of Victims of the Ukrainian Flight welcomed Canada's decision to place the IRGC on the terrorist list. The statement referenced the IRGC's role in downing Flight PS752 over Tehran International Airport, resulting in the deaths of 176 passengers. The association stated: 'Since its establishment in 1979, the IRGC has been involved in suppressing protesters and opponents of the Islamic regime not only in Iran but around the world. The IRGC has also played a significant role in the bloody suppression of the protests in November 2019 and the Woman, Life, Freedom movement.' Prince Reza Pahlavi, the former crown prince of Iran, welcomed Canada's action in designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Pahlavi wrote on social media platform X: 'This is an important step towards holding the criminal regime of the Islamic Republic accountable and advancing the democratic movement of the Iranian people.' He emphasized that it is now Europe's turn to 'list the IRGC as a terrorist organization.' Hamid Ismailion, a political activist opposed to the Islamic Republic, in a video message shared on his X page, announced the IRGC's designation as a terrorist group by the Canadian government, stating: 'We will never forget or forgive the killers of our loved ones and the killers of the people of Iran.' Ismailion thanked the Canadian government and political activists, expressing gratitude to 'the brave people of Iran who stand against this hellish organization.' Masih Alinejad, a political activist opposed to the Islamic Republic, also thanked organizations and individuals such as Hamid Ismailion and Nazanin Afshin-Jam who played a role in this matter, writing on social media platform X: 'Now we must work harder and seize this opportunity to increase pressure on other countries.' Alinejad continued that other countries should be urged to 'list the IRGC of the Islamic Republic as a terrorist organization and join the fight against gender apartheid for Iranian women.' Among the officials of the Islamic Republic, Nasser Kanani, spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, condemned Canada's decision, stating: 'This disgusting action has no effect on the legitimate power and deterrence of the IRGC.' He added that 'we reserve our rights to a proportional and reciprocal response.' Meanwhile, Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy for International Affairs of the Judiciary, described the Canadian government's designation of the IRGC as 'hostile' and condemned it. This judicial official stated that he 'strongly condemns this hostile act, which is contrary to international law,' asserting that the IRGC 'is responsible for safeguarding national security and combating terrorism in the region.' The House of Commons in Canada unanimously approved a motion to place the IRGC on the list of terrorist groups on May 9. This non-binding motion, proposed by the House of Commons Justice Committee, called on the Canadian government to designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity. Previously, the Canadian Parliament had passed a similar non-binding motion in June 2018. In recent months, the Canadian government has faced increasing pressure to designate the IRGC as a terrorist group under criminal law. Opposition parties to Justin Trudeau's government intensified their calls to add the IRGC to the list of terrorist organizations following Iran's airstrike on Israel. In October 2022, Ottawa clarified that such an action could 'unfairly' lead to the arrest of those Iranians in Canada who had previously been forced to serve in this force and have since fled the country. Canada had previously placed the Quds Force, the IRGC's overseas branch, on the list of terrorist groups. Ottawa has also cut diplomatic ties with Tehran since 2012. CBC reported on Wednesday that when a group is placed on the terrorist list, Canadian police can charge anyone who provides financial or material support to this group, and banks can freeze their assets. Trudeau: We are looking to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization. In October 2022, Canada announced a ban on the entry of senior IRGC leaders into the country and promised further targeted sanctions. At that time, Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland stated that 'the IRGC is a terrorist organization.' Last December, Dominic LeBlanc rejected the option of not labeling the IRGC as terrorist, stating: 'Our government is always looking for actions to enhance national security and hold terrorist organizations accountable.' Hannah Neumann, a German representative in the European Parliament, on Thursday shared Justin Trudeau's post regarding the IRGC's designation as a terrorist organization on social media platform X, writing: 'Let's join Canada and some other countries in listing the IRGC as a terrorist organization.' There has been an increase in calls in Australia to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Following Canada's designation of the IRGC as a 'terrorist organization,' several political figures and Iranian organizations residing in Australia have called for a similar action from the Australian government. The Union of Iranian Organizations in Australia published a letter addressed to the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, and Attorney General of Australia, describing Canada's action in recognizing the IRGC as a terrorist group as 'a vital step for international security.' The letter explicitly requests the Australian government to list the IRGC and its Quds Force, its overseas branch, as terrorist organizations. The letter states that 'the time for hesitation is over, and the safety and security of our citizens and the global community require immediate action.' This letter also emphasizes the 'support' of the Iranian community in Australia for the government's action in this regard. Senator Claire Chandler, an opposition senator in Australia, also welcomed Canada's action and called for a similar request from her country's current cabinet. Nazanin Boniadi, an Iranian artist and human rights activist, has also urged the European Union, Australia, and the UK to replicate Canada's action.