Russia Opposes US Plans to Label Iran’s IRGC as Terrorist Group

The Russian Foreign Ministry has expressed opposition to US President Donald Trump’s plan to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.

Moscow does not consider the IRGC as a terrorist organization, Russia’s Interfax news agency cited the Russian Foreign Ministry as saying on Tuesday, Press TV reported.

The news comes a few days before the US president’s expected announcement of a final decision on his Iran strategy.

In his planned speech on October 15, Trump is expected to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Moreover, he is reportedly planning to announce that he will not certify the nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reached between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries in 2015.

On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif warned that Tehran will take reciprocal measures against a potential “strategic mistake” by Trump to blacklist the IRGC.

 “If American officials make such a strategic mistake, the Islamic Republic of Iran will take a reciprocal measure,” Zarif said, adding, “Some measures have been thought out in this regard and will be taken at the appropriate time.”

The IRGC chief commander, Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari, said on Sunday that Iran would treat US troops like Daesh terrorists if the IRGC was designated as a terrorist organization by the US.

Trump’s efforts to blacklist the IRGC come as the advisors of the Iranian elite force are currently assisting the Iraqi and Syrian forces in their anti-terrorism campaign against Daesh Takfiri militants and other terrorist groups in both countries.

While the IRGC’s advisory military missions in Iraq and Syria, both hit by Daesh terrorism, have significantly boosted Iran’s geopolitical influence in the region, the White House seeks to label Tehran’s growing regional role as violation of the “spirit” of the JCPOA.

The nuclear agreement, however, is solely about Iran’s nuclear activities and it does not incorporate non-nuclear issues.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration, which has long railed against the nuclear agreement, has failed to provide any evidence against the fact that Iran has been fully compliant with the deal.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is the only official institution in charge of verifying Iranian compliance, and it has repeatedly confirmed Iran’s adherence to its contractual obligations.

H.M