Iran Blacklists US Forces in West Asia in Reciprocal Move

TEHRAN– Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) put US forces in West Asia, known as the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), on its terror list after Washington designated the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist group”.

The Trump administration on Monday labeled IRGC as a terrorist group and claimed, “This unprecedented step, led by the Department of State, recognizes the reality that Iran is not only a State Sponsor of Terrorism, but that the IRGC actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft”.

In a statement later in the day, the SNSC said it has put CENTCOM on its terror list as a “reciprocal measure” against US President Donald Trump’s “illegal and unwise” move to blacklist IRGC a foreign terrorist organization, Tasnim News reported.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran regards this baseless move as a major threat to regional and international peace and security and a blatant violation of the compelling rules of international law and the United Nations Charter,” it added.

The top security council said that CENTCOM has been tasked with implementing terrorist policies of the US government against countries in West Asia, noting that CENTCOM’s effort to impose those policies has endangered Iran’s national security and the lives of both Iranians and non-Iranians, including through participation of the US in the massacre of the Yemeni people and other civilians in the West Asia region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Monday proposed that the SNSC should add American forces in West Asia to its list of terrorist groups.

Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Major General Mohammad Ali Jafari had previously warned that the American army and security forces would not experience peace and calm in the Middle East if Washington blacklists the IRGC.

The IRGC, which has roughly 125,000 military personnel and enjoys growing public support, is also actively cooperating in construction, infrastructure and relief projects.

M.Wassouf