Iran summons ambassador over Canada's IRGC blacklisting
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The summoning is in response to Canada's decision to label the IRGC as a "terrorist group".
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A view of Iran's Foreign Ministry building in the capital Tehran (Creative Commons)
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.
The Italian diplomat received Tehran’s strong protest regarding Ottawa's action, which Iran considers unlawful and contrary to international law. The Iranian diplomat also emphasized Tehran's right to take appropriate measures and respond in kind. The Italian ambassador assured that she would promptly convey the issue to Canadian officials.
This comes shortly after Iran stated Thursday that it reserved the right to "properly" respond to Canada's labeling of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist" organization.
At the time, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani condemned Canada's "political, unconventional, and unwise" decision.
However, he stressed that the label would not impact the IRGC's 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 group, 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.
