The United States is expected to designate Irans elite Revolutionary Guards Corps a foreign terrorist organization, three US officials told Reuters, marking the first time that Washington will formally label another countrys military as a terrorist group.
The decision, which critics warn could open US military and intelligence officials to similar actions by unfriendly governments abroad, is expected to be announced by the US State Department, perhaps as early as Monday, the officials said.
The Pentagon declined to comment and referred queries to the State Department. The State Department and White House also declined to comment.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a strident Iran hawk, has advocated for the change in US policy as part of the Trump administrations tough posture toward Tehran.
The announcement would come ahead of the first anniversary of President Donald Trumps decision to pull out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran and to reimpose sanctions that had crippled Irans economy.
The administrations decision to make the designation was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
The United States has already blacklisted dozens of entities and people for affiliations with the IRGC, but the organization as a whole is not.
In 2007, the US Treasury designated the IRGCs Quds Force, its unit in charge of operations abroad, “for its support of terrorism,” and has described it as Irans “primary arm for executing its policy of supporting terrorist and insurgent groups.”
Iran has warned of a “crushing” response should the United States go ahead with the designation.
IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari warned in 2017 that if Trump went ahead with the move, “then the Revolutionary Guards will consider the American army to be like ISIS all around the world.”
Such threats are particularly ominous for US forces in places such as Iraq, where Iran-aligned Shiite militia are located in close proximity to US troops.
Former Under-Secretary of State and lead Iran negotiator, Wendy Sherman, said the move had implications for US forces.
“One might even suggest, since its hard to see why this is in our interest, if the president isnt looking for a basis for a conflict,” said Sherman. “The IRGC is already fully sanctioned and this escalation absolutely endangers our troops in the region.”
IRGCS Reach
Set up after the 1979 Islamic Revolution to protect the Shiite clerical ruling system, the IRGC is Irans most powerful security organization. It has control over large sectors of the Iranian economy and has a huge influence in its political system.
The IRGC has an estimated 125,000-strong military with army, navy and airRead More – Source
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