Paul Ryan: We Must List the IRGC as a Terrorist Organization

Paul Ryan, the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, sharply criticized the nuclear agreement with Iran, known as the JCPOA, on Monday, April 7, stating that this agreement ultimately paves the way for Iran to acquire the capability to build nuclear weapons. Speaking at AIPAC (American Israel Public Affairs Committee), Ryan also asserted that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) should be designated as a terrorist organization. According to the website of the Speaker of the House, which published the text of his speech, he stated: 'Everyone knows my views on the agreement that President Obama made with Iran; if we want to act better in the future, we must not forget the mistakes of the past.' Iran and the U.S., along with Russia, China, France, Britain, and Germany, reached an agreement to limit Tehran's nuclear activities in July 2015, which was implemented in January 2016. Concurrently, many international sanctions against Iran were suspended or lifted. Ryan continued to call the nuclear agreement with Iran a 'complete disaster,' stating: 'We provided them with billions of dollars to lift nuclear sanctions, gave them over a billion dollars in cash, and opened the global market to Tehran. In return, Iran increased its support for terrorism, further violated human rights, and developed its ballistic missile program while still keeping an eye on nuclear weapons.' The Speaker of the House called for stricter oversight of the implementation of the nuclear agreement with Iran, adding: 'The fatal flaw in this agreement is that even if Iran fully cooperates, this agreement provides a patient pathway for them to achieve the capability to produce nuclear weapons.' Ryan further pointed out that the limitations on Iran's nuclear and missile programs would end after 9 to 14 years from the implementation of the JCPOA. The Speaker of the House emphasized: 'This is unacceptable. Therefore, we must intensify strict oversight of Iran's implementation of the JCPOA and punish the regime with non-nuclear sanctions for a range of illegal actions.' Reports indicate that at the AIPAC meeting on Monday, in addition to Paul Ryan, Nikki Haley, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, also spoke. The three-day AIPAC conference concludes on Tuesday. Ryan also mentioned that the issue goes beyond Iran's nuclear and missile programs, stating that the Iranian regime seeks to destroy Israel and expand its influence in the region. The Speaker emphasized: 'They support a dictator in Damascus who is committing genocide, arm rebels in Yemen, and financially support terrorists from Baghdad to Beirut. Their goal is hegemony and dominance over the region.' Ryan asserted: 'To counter these threats, we must use all of America's power. We must work with our allies, especially Israel, to confront these aggressive actions anywhere.' He added: 'We must expand sanctions against Iran's terrorist army, the IRGC, and place it on the list of foreign terrorist organizations.' Last December, several U.S. lawmakers introduced designs to the Senate and House of Representatives, requesting the Secretary of State to designate the IRGC as a 'terrorist organization.' The U.S. State Department, in its annual reports on the status of 'global terrorism,' identifies the Islamic Republic of Iran as 'the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism.' In October 2007, the U.S. Senate voted 76 to 22 in favor of a non-binding resolution by Republican Senator John Kyl and Independent Senator Joseph Lieberman, urging then-President George W. Bush to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. A month later, the U.S. government imposed sanctions on the IRGC.