Canada’s blacklisting of IRGC ‘mindless gift’ to Israel, terrorists: Acting FM
In yet another hostile move against Iran, the Canadian government blacklisted the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on Wednesday and designated the elite Iranian military force as a so-called “terrorist” entity.
The belligerent move came less than a month after the Canadian House of Commons adopted a non-binding resolution calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government to blacklist the IRGC and expel an estimated 700 Iranians.
Iran’s interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani denounced the Canadian government’s decision, describing it as a senseless gift to the bloodthirsty Israeli regime, terrorists and enemies of peace and stability in West Asia.
“Canada’s unlawful act of declaring an integral part of the official military force of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which has played an irreplaceable role in defending the national security and territorial integrity of dear Iran, and protecting the security and stability of the region and confronting the terrorism by Daesh, was malicious and violates the principles and rules of international law,” Bagheri Kani wrote in a post published on the social media platform X on Thursday.
The Iranian official added that it was “a mindless gift to the bloodthirsty regime, terrorists and other enemies of peace and stability in the region.”
Bagheri Kani said the Canadian government will be held accountable for the consequences of the provocative and irresponsible decision.
FM spox slams Canada’s ‘unwise’ move
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani also said Tehran reserves the right to reciprocate with a “proper” response Canada’s unlawful act to designate the country’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist” organization.
Kan’ani denounced the “political, unconventional and unwise” move by the Canadian government against the IRGC, and said such measures will fail to hinder the elite force from increasing the level and scope of its power rooted in the Iranian nation.
He noted that the IRGC is an official and legal entity enshrined in Iran’s Constitution, which, along with other Armed Forces, is responsible to safeguard national security and borders and promote lasting security and stability in the region by fighting the vicious phenomenon of terrorism.
Italian ambassador called in over Canada’s decision
Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned on Thursday the Italian ambassador to Tehran in protest at the Canadian government’s decision to blacklist IRGC.
Paola Amadei, whose country represents the Canadian interests in the Islamic Republic, was called in by the Director-General for Americas at the Foreign Ministry and received Tehran’s strong protest over Ottawa’s unlawful action that contradicts the rules of international law.
The 59-year-old Italian diplomat was also warned about the repercussions of such a move the Islamic Republic’s right to take necessary measures.
Canada broke off diplomatic ties with Iran and closed its Tehran embassy in a surprise move in 2012, citing various reasons, including Iran’s support for Syria, its nuclear work, and alleged threats to the Israeli regime.
In the same year, however, Ottawa took off the anti-Iran terrorist Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) from its list of terrorist organizations.
In 2022, Iran’s Foreign Ministry imposed sanctions on eight Canadian officials and one institution over their support for anti-Iran terrorists and acts of terror among other things.
Canada has also been serving, for years, as a safe haven for Iranian embezzlers, who have fled their safe in the knowledge that Ottawa would not take the trouble to extradite them.