U.S. House of Representatives Prohibits State Department from Using 2024 Budget to Remove IRGC from Terrorist List

On Thursday, October 6, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the 2024 budget bill for the State Department. This bill includes two amendments, one of which prohibits the use of this budget to remove the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from the list of foreign terrorist organizations. This amendment was approved with 351 votes in favor and 81 against. The other amendment proposed a reduction of Robert Malley's salary, the U.S. Special Envoy for Iran, to one dollar, which was also approved by voice vote. Malley is currently on unpaid leave pending an investigation into the suspension of his security clearance due to potential 'misuse' of classified information. Meanwhile, Christopher Mayer, Deputy Secretary of Defense, stated during a Senate meeting that the Pentagon is reviewing the security clearance of Arash Tabatabai, a former associate of Robert Malley. One day earlier, Michael McCaul, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that reports regarding Malley's connections with an Iranian official, who sources say is a key member of Iran's influence campaign, are 'alarming.' McCaul also called for transparency from the U.S. government regarding 'Iran's influence in Western political circles.' According to McCaul, 'many of those involved in Iran's influence campaign had close ties with Robert Malley, the U.S. Special Envoy for Iran. Malley is under investigation for misuse of classified information and is currently on unpaid leave from the State Department.' Donald Trump, the former President of the United States, added the IRGC to the list of foreign terrorist organizations in April 2019. The Islamic Republic has demanded the removal of the IRGC from the foreign terrorist organizations list during indirect negotiations to revive the JCPOA, which faced opposition from the Biden administration. The U.S. has labeled the IRGC's satellite launch as a 'serious threat' to regional and international security. Republicans have harshly criticized the Biden administration for its 'appeasement' towards the Islamic Republic; the case of Arash Tabatabai is under review. Republicans in the House of Representatives have also criticized the '6 billion dollar ransom' to the Islamic Republic, prompting Congress to take action. The U.S. has sanctioned five companies and two individuals for supplying 'sensitive parts' for Iranian-made drones.