US declares Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist force

KABUL (Pajhwok): In a highly escalatory move, US President Donald Trump has announced designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a foreign terrorist organisation,

In a tit-for-tat response, Iran’s powerful security council designated the United States a state sponsor of terrorism and American forces in the region terrorist groups.

President Trump’s action represents the first time the United States has branded a foreign military as a terrorist outfit, according to The New York Times.

In a statement, the US president said Washington would continue to ramp up financial pressure and raise the costs on Iran for supporting terrorist activity.

The move imposes severe economic and travel sanctions on the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps and organizations, firms and individuals with ties to it.

The designation, taking effect on April 15, would significantly expand the scope and scale of America’s maximum pressure on the Iranian regime, Trump said.

Some top national security officials voiced aversion to the presidential action, fearing it could draw retaliation from Iran against US troops and intelligence personnel.

Hours after Trump’s announcement, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said it was designating as a terrorist organisation the United States Central Command.

CENTCOM’s area of command covers multiple war zones including Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, and the Persian Gulf. The council denounced Washington’s decision as an illegal and foolish act.

“It underscores the fact that Iran’s actions are fundamentally different from those of other governments. It makes crystal clear the risks of conducting business with, or providing support to, the IRGC,” Trump said.

Speaking to journalists in Washington, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned all banks and businesses to end dealings with the IRGC.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the step, saying the designation served the interests of “our countries and of countries in the region”.

He tweeted: “Thank you, President Trump for your decision to designate the Islamic revolutionary guards as a terrorist organisation. Once again you are keeping the world safe from Iran aggression and terrorism.”

PAN Monitor/mud

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