Iranian MPs urge designating Canadian army, fed. police as 'terrorist'
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Iran has reserved its right to "properly" respond to Canada's labeling of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist" organization.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gestures while visiting NATO troops at Adazi Military Base in Latvia in 2018. (AP)
Iranian MPs have sharply criticized the Canadian government's move to blacklist the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist" organization, seeking countermeasures against the Canadian military.
Over 250 Iranian parliamentarians presented a motion Sunday urging the administration to declare the Canadian Army and federal police agencies as "terrorist organizations", showing strong support for the IRGC and praising its efforts in defending Iran's national security and territorial integrity.
The parliamentarians also hailed the IRGC's assistance for oppressed nations in West Asia, notably Palestinians, as well as its leadership in opposing the criminal Israeli regime.
They considered the IRGC as a "thorn in the side" of the Muslim world's adversaries, particularly "Israel" and its supporters.
The Iranian legislature further stated that the Canadian government is a fervent supporter of the criminal Israeli regime, underlining that its blacklisting of the IRGC violates all laws and regulations and showcases Canadian support for "Israel".
They eventually urged the Iranian Foreign Ministry to use all political and international channels to condemn Canada's action.
Iran earlier stated that it reserved the right to "properly" respond to Canada's labeling of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist organization".
On Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani condemned Canada's "political, unconventional and unwise" blacklisting decision.
However, he stressed that the label would not impact the Corps' operations, saying, "The reprehensible move of the Canadian government against the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps will have no impact on [the force] generating legitimate and deterrent power."
Kanaani emphasized that such moves would fail before the Corps, which would continue expanding its power.
The spokesperson further highlighted the Canadian decision's disregard for international law and non-interference in foreign countries' internal affairs, slamming it as a violation of Iran's sovereignty.
"This irresponsible and provocative move is in line with the wrong path that the Canadian government has taken for more than a decade under the influence of warmongers and true violators of human rights and the main sponsors of terrorism," he said.
Canada continues treading hostile waters
Canada's Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced the country's decision to label the IRGC as a "terror group" on Wednesday.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had previously confirmed that his government is looking "for ways to responsibly list the IRGC as a terrorist organization."
LeBlanc stated during a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Melanie Joly and Justice Minister Arif Virani that the Canadian government decided to label the IRGC as "a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code. This action sends a strong message that Canada will use all of the tools at its disposal to combat the terrorist entity of the IRGC."
Following the designation, thousands of top Iranian government officials, including IRGC members, would be barred from entering Canada, according to LeBlanc and current and former officials living in the nation might face inquiry and deportation.
Joly advised Canadians to leave Iran "right now" and strongly warned anybody considering a trip to the Islamic Republic.
Iran's Foreign Ministry summoned the Italian ambassador to Tehran to protest Canada's decision to blacklist the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and classify it as a "terrorist" organization.
Paola Amadei, representing Canadian interests in Iran, was called in on Thursday by the Director-General for Americas at Iran's Foreign Ministry.
It is worth noting that in January 2023, the European Parliament urged, in a non-binding vote, the European Union and its member states to include the IRGC on the bloc's "terrorist" list.
