U.S. Treasury Department Planning Sanctions Against the IRGC

After Donald Trump announced his new strategy regarding Iran by granting permission to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) among U.S. sanctions, the U.S. Treasury Secretary announced that they are planning to impose new sanctions against the IRGC. In an interview with Fox News on Sunday, October 15, Steven Mnuchin expressed full support for the President's decision to sanction the IRGC and stated that they are in the process of planning these sanctions. Mnuchin emphasized that sanctioning financial providers of terrorism is a significant part of the Treasury's activities. He added, 'Regarding Iran, I had the opportunity to discuss this with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency at the National Security Council. We had many discussions on this matter, including with the President in his office, and I fully support President Trump's plan in this regard, and it is very important.' In response to a question about the likelihood of U.S. allies joining the sanctions against the IRGC, Mnuchin did not provide a direct answer but said, 'They fully understand that there are issues regarding the conditions of the agreement, and they also understand that Iran is violating UN sanctions outside the framework of the nuclear agreement.' He mentioned that in recent days, he has met and discussed directly with his counterparts from around the world during meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund about how the U.S. is dealing with Iran. The U.S. Treasury Department announced on Friday, coinciding with the announcement of the new U.S. strategy regarding Iran by Donald Trump, that it would add the IRGC to its sanctions list as part of a broader strategy to exert pressure on Tehran. Previously, many commanders of the IRGC and affiliated organizations and companies, including the IRGC's Quds Force, were already on the Treasury's sanctions list, but the entirety of this force was not. In this context, Steven Mnuchin stated that the IRGC 'plays a central role in turning Iran into a leading state in supporting terrorism.' Mnuchin clarified that the IRGC is holding a significant part of Iran's economy hostage, appropriating religious sentiments, and investing in war and terrorism outside Iran's borders. Iranian officials have emphasized their support for the IRGC following the announcement of its inclusion in the U.S. sanctions list, with both the President and the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic describing this institution as a guarantor of territorial integrity and pride for the Iranian people.