Canada has listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist” entity and urged its citizens in Iran to leave. The Justin Trudeau government made the announcement on Wednesday, stating that the move aims to assist Ottawa in “countering terrorist financing.” This decision follows a similar step taken by the United States in 2019 after Western countries accused the IRGC of conducting a global terrorist campaign.
What is the IRGC?
The IRGC, also known as the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Force, Sepah, or Pasdaran, is a multi-service primary branch of the Iranian Armed Forces. It was officially established after the 1979 Iranian Revolution and is tasked with preventing foreign interference in the country, thwarting coups, and crushing movements that harm the ideologies of the Islamic Republic.
Meanwhile, Tehran has dismissed such claims, asserting that the elite force is a sovereign institution responsible for safeguarding national security. In a press conference, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani described Canada’s move as “an unwise and unconventional politically-motivated step.” He further added, “Canada’s action will not have any effect on the Revolutionary Guards’ legitimate and deterrent power.”
