Russia Criticizes US Efforts to Designate IRGC as Terrorist Organization

On Tuesday, October 10, the Russian Foreign Ministry criticized the potential plan by the Trump administration to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. The Russian news agency Interfax reported that the ministry deemed such a decision negative and does not consider the IRGC a terrorist organization. Washington is expected to announce its strategy regarding Iran's 'bad behavior' in the coming days, including the possibility of soon placing the IRGC on the list of terrorist organizations. The publication of these speculations has elicited strong reactions from the IRGC commander, the Iranian Foreign Minister, and the spokesperson for President Hassan Rouhani's government. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned on Monday that if Washington takes such action, Tehran will respond with countermeasures. The senior spokesperson for the Islamic Republic's armed forces also joined the critics of the potential US policy towards the IRGC on Tuesday, threatening that 'America's behavior has frustrated the world; it is time to teach America new lessons.' According to ISNA news agency, Massoud Jazayeri stated, 'It seems that the Trump administration understands nothing but insults and needs shocks to comprehend the new concept of power in today's world.' A spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry also emphasized on Monday, in response to a question about the potential support for such a decision, that 'from the perspective of regional instability, France is sensitive to any actions that could exacerbate ongoing crises.' The US President is set to announce the country's policy regarding the nuclear deal with Iran, known as the JCPOA, on October 12, and it is expected that he will state that the Vienna nuclear agreement is no longer in line with Washington's interests. As National Security Advisor Herbert McMaster has indicated, Washington intends to announce its overall strategy for containing Iran in the region, independent of the JCPOA. He emphasized that Donald Trump views the entire situation in Iran in his decision regarding the JCPOA, not just the country's nuclear program. The IRGC is accused of military interference in countries like Yemen, Iraq, and Syria and is seeking to expand the Islamic Republic's missile activities, which are considered a threat to US regional allies and military bases. In this context, Jafari stated that new US sanctions would eliminate any chance of interaction forever. Qasemi asserted that Iran's response to the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization would be decisive and crushing. France expressed concern about escalating tensions in the Middle East if the IRGC is designated as a terrorist organization. Zarif reiterated that if the IRGC is designated as such by the US, Iran will take reciprocal actions. The ongoing positioning against the potential designation of the IRGC by the US continues.