Canada Designates Iran's Revolutionary Guards as Terrorist Entity
In a resolute stance against global terrorism, Canada has officially listed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. This decision, years in the making, has been the subject of intense pressure from opposition legislators and members of the Iranian diaspora.
Announcing the landmark decision on Wednesday, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc hailed it as a "significant tool in fighting global terrorism," underscoring the gravity of the move and Canada's unwavering commitment to combating extremism on the international stage.
The designation will have far-reaching consequences, effectively barring thousands of senior Iranian government officials, including top IRGC officials, from entering Canadian territory. This action serves as a powerful statement against the IRGC's pervasive influence and alleged involvement in destabilizing activities across the Middle East and beyond.
Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, quoted by the country's Fars news agency, has swiftly condemned what he described as an "unwise and unconventional" step, reflecting the tension and potential diplomatic repercussions arising from Canada's decisive action.
The IRGC, a formidable military, political, and economic force within Iran, maintains close ties with the nation's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. With an estimated active personnel strength of over 190,000, the IRGC wields significant influence through its ground forces, navy, and air force, overseeing Iran's strategic weapons arsenal.
According to the Canadian government, the IRGC's shadowy overseas operations arm, the Quds (Jerusalem) Force, exerts influence throughout the Middle East by providing money, weapons, technology, training, and advice to allied governments and armed groups. While the Quds Force was already designated as a terrorist group by Canada, Wednesday's announcement extends the designation to the entire IRGC.
Addressing reporters, Minister LeBlanc emphasized the gravity of the action, stating that it "sends a strong message that Canada will use all of the tools at its disposal to combat the terrorist entity of the IRGC." He further underscored the Iranian regime's consistent disregard for human rights, both within and beyond its borders, as well as its willingness to destabilize the international rules-based order.
The implications of this designation are far-reaching, as current and former senior Iranian government officials already in Canada may now be subject to investigation and potential removal from the country.
Canada's Foreign Affairs Minister, Melanie Joly, issued a stern warning, cautioning Canadians in Iran about the risk of arbitrary detention following the announcement. "My message is clear: for those who are in Iran right now, it's time to come back home," she stated emphatically. "And for those who are planning to go to Iran, don't go."
In response, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanaani, dismissed Canada's move as "an unwise and unconventional politically-motivated step." Defiantly, he added, "Canada's action will not have any effect on the Revolutionary Guards' legitimate and deterrent power."
The Canadian government, under the leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, had previously declined to extend the terrorism designation to the IRGC, despite mounting pressure from diaspora members, including the families of those who perished in the tragic downing of Flight PS752 by the IRGC in January 2020 in Tehran. The incident claimed the lives of all 175 passengers on board, including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents of Canada.
While Trudeau had previously expressed concerns about unfairly targeting Iranians in Canada who opposed the regime but had served in the IRGC in the past, the government's decision to proceed with the designation underscores the urgency and severity of the threat posed by the IRGC.
With this move, Canada joins the United States, which designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization in 2019, and aligns itself with the United Kingdom's stated intent to follow suit, though the latter has yet to formalize the designation as recently as 2023.