Fact-Checking: Contrary to Ali Khamenei's Claims, the IRGC is Not Viewed as 'Counter-Terrorist' in Iran and Worldwide

The 'PoliGraph' website, a fact-checking project of Voice of America, has rejected Ali Khamenei's claim that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is a 'counter-terrorist' force, labeling it a 'lie.' On August 17, Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, condemned efforts by enemies to 'discredit' the IRGC and introduced it as a 'global counter-terrorist force.' However, contrary to this false claim, several countries, including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, and the United States, have previously listed the IRGC as a 'terrorist organization.' Additionally, in Europe, due to the 'assassinations and sabotage' by the IRGC, the issue of placing the IRGC on the list of terrorist organizations is under review by the 'European Union.' The IRGC, established in 1979 and responsible for protecting the 'Revolution' and 'Islamic system,' is linked to supporting 'Shia militia groups' across the Middle East and 'fueling proxy wars' against Israel and Saudi Arabia. This support in the region has led to the formation of a 'resistance axis' with over 100 Shia militia groups, supported by the Quds Force of the IRGC in several countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, etc. In Iraq, the IRGC provides financial, training, logistical, and weapon support to militia groups that the United States labels as terrorist. Furthermore, the Quds Force has trained Shia militants in using explosive projectiles for deadly attacks, which have contributed significantly to U.S. military casualties in Iraq. In Yemen, the IRGC supports Houthi rebels using advanced weapons, training, and military advisors, leading to ruthless attacks on civilians and destruction of infrastructure. Moreover, the IRGC intervenes with groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, where Iran-backed Shia militants have participated in a wide range of terrorist activities, including suicide bombings and bombings. However, the IRGC also supports Palestinian groups such as Islamic Jihad and Hamas, backing their terrorist activities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In Syria, the IRGC operates through proxy forces like 'Fatimiyoun' and 'Zainabiyoun,' composed of Afghan and Pakistani Shia militants, respectively, with Quds Force troops participating in several combat operations alongside groups like Hezbollah. The analytical report from the 'PoliGraph' website reveals the Quds Force of the IRGC as the IRGC's foreign operations arm, which was designated a terrorist organization by the United States in 2007. The United States declared the entire IRGC as a 'foreign terrorist organization' in 2019. However, even within Iran, the actions of the IRGC, from arrests, torture, and forced confessions to imprisonment, and its 'central role' in the 'brutal suppression' of nationwide protests in 2022, all serve as clear evidence of the terrorist nature of the IRGC. This article is a translation of part of the research conducted on the 'PoliGraph' website, a fact-checking project of Voice of America.