What will happen if Iran declares ‘Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ as a terrorist?
The ‘Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) is an army fighting for Iran on the religious, political and economic front.
It protects the interests of the Islamic nation in the event of domestic crisis as well as foreign threats. Britain and the European Union are preparing to declare this special force of Iran as a terrorist organization soon.
What is the rationale behind declaring a terrorist organization?
A few days ago, Alireza Akbari, a former minister in the government of Iran, was sentenced to death. Alireza was living here after obtaining British citizenship. According to Britain’s Foreign Minister James Cleverly, ‘After Alireza’s death sentence, Britain is considering declaring Iran’s special force as a terrorist organization.’
Cleverly said, “Alireza was lured to Iran and then arbitrarily sentenced under the infamous judicial process there.”
Alireza Akbari was convicted of espionage for Britain. Rejecting Iran’s allegations, he had alleged that the intelligence agencies there had forced him to confess by torturing him.
Supporting Alireza’s allegations, UK intelligence agencies also admitted that Iranian intelligence agents targeted 10 people living in Britain, including Iranian journalists, in the past year.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Bayerbock and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have also appealed to the European Union to include the IRGC in its list of terrorist organizations.
Behind their appeal, both cited the role of IGRC in cracking down on the ongoing protests in Iran. These demonstrations in Iran have continued since the death of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini in police custody last year.
The European Parliament has already passed a resolution in favor of declaring IRGC as a terrorist organization. But this proposal will come into force only when the member countries of the union give their approval to it.
America has included IRGC in the list of terrorist organizations in 2019 itself, alleging that it supports organizations like ‘Hezbollah’.
What is ‘Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’?
This armed group was established in 1979 after the success of the Iranian Revolution. The aim was to protect the Islamic system in the country. Basically it works as an alternative to the regular army of Iran.
Dr. Sanam Vikal, associated with London’s Catham House International Affairs think tank, says, “Initially it was a small military group, but today it has taken the form of a very large organization.”
This special force of Iran has its own land, it also has its own navy and air force. Including all these, one lakh 90 thousand people are estimated to be associated with this organization.
This force also operates Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear program.
IRGC has also built its big business empire, which includes companies in the defense, engineering, construction sector. It is believed that their share in Iran’s economy is close to one-third.
What has the IRGC been doing in Iran?
The Basij Resistance Force (BRF) is a paramilitary wing of the IRGC. Through this wing, the IGRC handles internal security throughout Iran. This wing is at the forefront of cracking down on the ongoing protests in Iran for the last 4 months.
According to the reports of some American human rights activists and news agencies, 522 people involved in the protests have been killed so far.
Professor Maryam Alemzadeh of Oxford University says, “The Basij resorted to indiscriminate violence against the protesters. It lynched many people. This is not doing any good to the government, but the protests after the violence of the Basij and sharpened”
What does IRGC do abroad?
The most famous branch of this special force of Iran is ‘Quds Force’.
From here it provides money and weapons to armed groups operating in the Middle East, such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Iraq’s Shiite militias and fighters fighting for the Syrian government.
Professor Alemzadeh says, “The Quds Force tries to strengthen friendly relations between all armed groups in those places where the balance of power can be made in favor of Iran.”
The same Dr. Vikal says, “The government of Iran considers America as its biggest enemy and supports all such groups that attack America in other countries.”
What does IRGC do abroad?
The most famous branch of this special force of Iran is ‘Quds Force’.
From here it provides money and weapons to armed groups operating in the Middle East, such as Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Iraq’s Shiite militias and fighters fighting for the Syrian government.
Professor Alemzadeh says, “The Quds Force tries to strengthen friendly relations between all armed groups in those places where the balance of power can be made in favor of Iran.”
The same Dr. Vikal says, “The government of Iran considers America as its biggest enemy and supports all such groups that attack America in other countries.”
What will happen if IRGC is declared a terrorist organization?
The biggest difference that will come from declaring a terrorist organization is that joining or supporting this special force of Iran is an uphill task.
