EP anti-IRGC move part of bigger hybrid war on Iran: Tehran

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The European Parliament's decision calling on the EU to "blacklist" Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) is a part of the bigger anti-Iran hybrid war, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and Judiciary Chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei said Saturday in a joint statement following a meeting hosted by the President of the Islamic Republic.

During a meeting between the three officials on Saturday at the presidential compound, they underlined support for the IRGC following Brussels' decision to blacklist it. They condemned the decision and underlined that it was "part of the hybrid war measures against the Iranian nation and the Islamic Republic."

Members of the European Parliament demanded on Tuesday that the EU classify the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps of Iran as a "terrorist" organization.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament held a session and voted on this proposal noting that the results are non-binding. The vote was approved with 598 countries voting in favor, 9 against, and 31 abstentions.

"The IRGC is a part of the military power and armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has been the source of meritorious service with a brilliant record in the defense of the glorious land of Iran for more than 40 years," they said.

Moreover, the top officials emphasized the need to advance the Islamic Republic's development goals with the coordination and cooperation of their respective branches, as well as all the elements of the Islamic Republic.

Swedish Member of the European Parliament, Charlie Weimers, said in a Tweet that "the EU Parliament has today voted to call for the EU and its Member States to include the IRGC on the EU’s terrorist list. The amendment of my group (@ecrgroup) was passed with an overwhelming majority."

Weimers added, "Tomorrow, I hope members will take the next step & call to suspend JCPOA."

A member of the Iranian parliament's presidium, Ahmad Naderi, said Friday that the Iranian parliament would enforce legislative amendments that would recognize armed forces of EU member states under the category of terrorist organizations if the EU proceeds to place the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) on its terrorist list.

Naderi was quoted by Iran's ISNA news agency as saying: "The parliament has prepared... draft amendments to the law on responsive measures to US' recognition of the IRGC as a terrorist organization... The draft will affect all EU member states, their armed forces, their organizations, and institutions that will put the IRGC on the terrorist list," 

This is in response to the European Parliament's adoption on Thursday of the resolution to impose additional sanctions against Iran over the West-backed riots in the country, in addition to alleged arms supplies to Russia and 'international espionage'.