Iran slams Canada blacklisting IRGC, reserves right to respond
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Iran says it reserves its right to retaliate against Canada's decision to label the IRGC as a terrorist group with a "proper" and fitting response.
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In this photo released on Aug. 11, 2022, by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani speaks in Tehran, Iran. (AP)
Iran 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" decision to classify the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
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.
The IRGC is a legitimate force established within the Constitution that safeguards Iran's sovereignty and security and fights off the threat of terrorism alongside the Iranian Armed Forces, Kanaani explained.
In a post on X, Kazem Gharibabadi, the deputy chief of Iran's Judiciary, denounced Canada's "hostile" move and reiterated the IRGC's role in defending Iranian sovereignty and security.
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.
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.
