Middle East
22:26, 08-Apr-2019
U.S. designates Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a ‘foreign terrorist organization’
Updated
09:26, 09-Apr-2019
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U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States has designated Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) as a "foreign terrorist organization," a move that is expected to further complicate the Middle East situation.
"The IRGC is the Iranian government's primary means of directing and implementing its global terrorist campaign," Trump said in a statement.
The designation "makes crystal clear the risks of conducting business with, or providing support to, the IRGC," the president added.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has pushed for the change in U.S. policy as part of the Trump administration's tough stance toward Tehran. He said on Monday that the designation will take effect in one week.
Critics have warned that the move could open U.S. military and intelligence officials to similar actions by unfriendly governments. The United States has already blacklisted dozens of entities and people for affiliations with the IRGC, but not the organization as a whole.
(With inputs from agencies)