Rouhani Says US Blacklisting of IRGC Tied to Its Anti-Terror Victories

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani says the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) “is at the vanguard of fighting terrorism” and the US’ blacklisting of the elite force stems from Washington’s infuriation at the IRGC’s leading role in the fight against terrorism.

“Enemies have failed to achieve their goals in the region, knowing that the IRGC has had a leading role in their defeat, so they are angry and therefore they resort to unwise measures,” Rouhani said at a cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

US President Donald Trump on Monday released a statement, designating the IRGC as “a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.”

Rouhani said the US move defied logic and contravened international rules and regulations, and noted it was propaganda and a politically-motivated, unwise and silly decision.  

 “The Americans should know that they are the source of oppression, cruelty and terrorism in the region, and regional countries, particularly the Iranian nation, have rushed to help one another in hard times, with the IRGC playing an outstanding role in this regard,” he added.

He said the US had employed all it had in power against Iran over the past 40 years but warned Washington against “acting beyond its rhetoric,” saying it will face serious problems.

Rouhani said that the US blacklisting of the IRGC and its recognition of Israel’s sovereignty over occupied Syria’s Golan Heights was meant to support a “criminal” regime in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in elections.  

Netanyahu had openly said that Trump designated the IRGC as a terror organization at his request, he added.

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