Jafari: If the U.S. sanctions the IRGC, it must withdraw its bases up to 1000 kilometers around Iran

Mohammad Ali Jafari, whose forces have faced severe criticism from the U.S. government and Congress in recent months, stated that if the IRGC is sanctioned by Washington, the U.S. must withdraw its regional bases up to 1000 kilometers around Iran. In recent months, the U.S. has criticized the IRGC's missile tests, accusing the Islamic Republic of Iran of attempting to disrupt peace and stability in the Middle East. Since Donald Trump's presidency began in January, several individuals and entities close to the IRGC or companies supporting its activities have been sanctioned by the Treasury and State Departments. The U.S. Congress is currently considering whether to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Jafari criticized these actions of the U.S. government and Congress, stating: 'If the U.S. intends to pursue the issue of defensive sanctions and sanctions against the IRGC, it must first withdraw its regional bases up to 1000 kilometers around Iran and understand that it will have to correct its miscalculations at a high cost.' According to reports from Tasnim and Fars news agencies, close to the IRGC, he made these remarks at a conference of IRGC Ground Forces commanders in Mashhad, asserting that 'missile capability is absolutely non-negotiable and not open to discussion.' He emphasized that 'we will defend our missile capabilities just as honorable men defend their honor.' The IRGC commander also called for a 'powerful stance from foreign policy officials' in Hassan Rouhani's government against new U.S. sanctions. These statements come as Mohammad Javad Zarif, the foreign minister, described the new U.S. sanctions as contrary to the 'spirit of the JCPOA,' and Hassan Rouhani, the president of Iran, stated that these sanctions are 'in contradiction' with the 'spirit and text' of the Vienna nuclear agreement, asserting that 'we will not overlook U.S. violations and will stand against them.' Hussein Aryan, a military expert, discussed the U.S. bases up to 1000 kilometers from Iranian territory, identifying key U.S. bases in the region, including Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar (the air branch of CENTCOM responsible for air operations against ISIS), Al Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, CENTCOM headquarters and the Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, and Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti (Africa Command). Two days earlier, Mohammad Baqeri, the chief of staff of the Iranian armed forces, also criticized the new U.S. sanctions against Iran, issuing a similar warning that 'equating the IRGC with terrorist groups and imposing similar sanctions poses a significant risk to Americans and their bases and forces in the region.' Tehran is accused of repeatedly conducting ballistic missile tests, which can be used to carry nuclear warheads, in violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231. This resolution, issued after the Vienna nuclear agreement in July 2015, calls on Iran to refrain from developing ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads. In this context, the U.S. Senate voted overwhelmingly on June 15 this year for a new sanctions bill against the Islamic Republic of Iran, known as the 'Countering Iran's Destabilizing Activities Act.' This bill imposes mandatory sanctions on any individual or entity connected to Iran's ballistic missile program, as well as commercial parties involved in this program. Before such a bill becomes law, the Trump administration, which is a staunch opponent of Iran's missile activities, has already included several individuals and entities associated with Iran's missile program in its sanctions list in recent months. Aryan noted that Jafari's reference to removing U.S. bases up to 1000 kilometers around Iran emphasizes Iran's missile capabilities and the range of these missiles. Jafari's and Baqeri's statements serve as a warning to U.S. officials that their bases will be attacked. Aryan pointed out that while the Trump administration has confirmed Iran's compliance with the JCPOA, it is also considering sanctioning the IRGC and adding this military force to the list of terrorist organizations. According to this military expert, 'from the perspective of the Trump administration and its close advisors, the IRGC is no different from the Quds Force and should be sanctioned. Sanctioning the IRGC has many supporters and opponents in the U.S.' Aryan emphasized that 'the IRGC and the Quds Force are significant players in Iraq and Syria, and moreover, this organization controls nearly 40 percent of Iran's economy and manages dozens, if not hundreds, of companies directly and indirectly. Imposing sanctions on the IRGC will also affect all these companies.'