Analysis by PMOI/MEK
April 16, 2019 – Effective Monday, April 15, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) has officially been designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States.
The US Federal Register published a statement by the US State Department announcing the formal designation of the IRGC in its FTO list. Decisions published in the US Federal Register indicates the formality of that subject.
US President Donald Trump announced the IRGC designation on April 8
Pursuant to this decision, the White House issued a statement saying the US President holds the Iranian regime accountable for its terrorist activities. This action by the US is against the regime in Iran and not the Iranian people, who themselves are the first victims of this regime and have suffered greatly under the mullahs’ rule.
The White House statement quoting the US President reads in part:
“This action sends a clear message to Tehran that its support for terrorism has serious consequences. We will continue to increase financial pressure and raise the costs on the Iranian regime for its support of terrorist activity until it abandons its malign and outlaw behavior.”
Following the IRGC’s FTO designation, Mrs. Maryam Rajavi, President-elect of the Iranian opposition coalition National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), reiterated the necessity of blacklisting the IRGC as a terrorist organization. She recalled how the Iranian Resistance had declared many times in the past that the terrorist listing of the IRGC in its entirety is imperative for Middle East peace and security.
This designation, which should have been implemented long ago, should be coupled with the designation of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), Mrs. Rajavi added.