The Canadian government has officially declared the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist organization” and has asked its citizens to leave Iran.
Following this action by the Canadian government, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau posted on X: “The IRGC is now listed as a terrorist group in Canada.”
According to Fars News Agency, Nasser Kanaani, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned Canada’s decision and said, “This repulsive action will have no effect on the IRGC’s legitimate and deterrent power production and the increase in its level and scope of authority.”
He added, “We reserve our right to respond appropriately and reciprocally.”
Kanaani described the Canadian government’s decision as a “hostile move contrary to the accepted principles of international law, including the equality of sovereignties and non-interference in the internal affairs of states, and an example of aggression against Iran’s national sovereignty,” and strongly condemned it.
He also claimed that the IRGC is “a sovereign entity emerging from the heart of the Iranian nation.”
This claim is made despite the fact that Iranian citizens have had no say or vote in the establishment or continued activity of the IRGC, and protesting citizens have repeatedly chanted slogans such as “Basiji, IRGC, you are our ISIS” during nationwide protests.
In a press conference on Wednesday, June 19, Dominic LeBlanc, the Canadian Minister of Public Safety, said that the government had decided to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization under criminal regulations.
He accused the Iranian regime of supporting terrorism, violating human rights “inside and outside of Iran,” and seeking to destabilize the rules-based international order.
Mr. LeBlanc told reporters that Canada uses all possible tools to combat the IRGC’s terrorist activities.
He added that the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization is based on very strong and convincing evidence.
The Minister of Public Safety in Justin Trudeau’s cabinet also clarified in response to the question of why it took Canada so long to take this action that the decision to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization was made based on law and the recommendations of security organizations, not as a result of political pressures.
After the Canadian government declared the IRGC as a terrorist organization, the country’s Foreign Minister, Mélanie Joly, pointed out that Ottawa had cut diplomatic relations with Tehran years ago and advised Canadians to avoid traveling to Iran.
She added that for those currently in Iran, it is time to return home.
Mrs.Maryam Rajavi, the president-elect of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), wrote:
“The Iranian Resistance has been advocating for this designation for years. This measure is essential in response to four decades of suppression, terrorism, and warmongering by the regime.”
Canada's designation of the #IRGC as a terrorist entity is a commendable step, deserving congratulations to the parliament and government of #Canada.
The Iranian Resistance has been advocating for this designation for years. This measure is essential in response to four decades… pic.twitter.com/ihFFWrgYwK— Maryam Rajavi (@Maryam_Rajavi) June 19, 2024
Among the officials of the Iranian regime, according to Fars News Agency, Nasser Kanaani, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, condemned Canada’s decision and said, “This repulsive action will have no effect on the IRGC’s legitimate and deterrent power production and the increase in its level and scope of authority.”
He added, “We reserve our right to respond appropriately and reciprocally.”
Meanwhile, Kazem Gharibabadi, the Deputy for International Affairs of the Judiciary, called the Canadian government’s declaration of the IRGC as a terrorist organization “hostile” and condemned it on the social media platform X.
Opposition parties to Justin Trudeau’s government intensified their calls to add the IRGC to the list of terrorist organizations following the Iranian regime’s airstrike on Israel.
In October 2022, Ottawa clarified that such an action might “unfairly” lead to the arrest of those Iranians in Canada who had been forced to serve in this force and have now fled the country and come to Canada.
Canada had previously listed the Quds Force, the IRGC’s external branch, as a terrorist group. Ottawa also cut its diplomatic relations with Tehran in 2012.
On Wednesday, Canada’s CBC TV reported that when a group is listed as a terrorist organization, the country’s police can charge anyone who financially or materially supports this group, and banks can also freeze their assets.
