On Wednesday, June 19, Canadian Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc announced the measure to designate the IRGC as a "terrorist entity under the Criminal Code" effective immediately. He also called on Canadians in Iran to leave at once.
"Based on their actions, there are reasonable grounds to believe that the IRGC has knowingly carried out, attempted to carry out, participated in, or facilitated a terrorist activity, or has knowingly acted on behalf of, at the direction of, or in association with an entity that has knowingly carried out terrorist activity," Ottawa's official press release read. "Listing the IRGC means that they are a terrorist group."
The statement was immediately condemned by Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kan. He called it "a gift to Israel."
"Canada's unlawful act of labeling an integral part of the official armed forces of Iran that has had an unmatched role in defending the national security and territorial integrity of beloved Iran … as terrorism, is a malicious provocation that violates the principles and rules of international law and is just a gift to the 'genocidal' regime," Kan said, adding that the "Canadian government will be responsible for the consequences of this provocative and irresponsible decision."
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Kanaani called the Canadian government's move "reprehensible," but assured that its designation "will have no impact" on the IRGC's legitimacy and its ability to act as a "deterrent power" against Iran's adversaries.
"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," Kanaani said.
He added that his nation holds the right to give a proper response to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's decision as this hostile move runs counter to the recognized principles of international law. This includes non-interference in the internal affairs of countries, Kanaani said, adding that this also constitutes an example of violating Iran's national sovereignty.
Kanaani further noted that the IRGC is an official and legal entity enshrined in Iran's Constitution, which, along with other branches of the Islamic Republic of Iran Armed Forces, is responsible for safeguarding national security and borders. IRCG also promotes lasting security and stability in the region by fighting the vicious phenomenon of terrorism.
Canada adopted a non-binding resolution back in May that called on Trudeau's government to blacklist the IRGC and expel an estimated 700 Iranians. Ottawa cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2012 and shut down its embassy in Tehran because Iran supported the Syrian government, its nuclear program and alleged threats against Israel. (Related: Iran warns of retaliation against U.S. forces in the Middle East if Biden supports Israel militarily.)
After Ottawa decided to designate IRCG as a terrorist entity, Iran demanded to meet the Italian ambassador, who represents Canadian interests in Tehran. On Thursday, June 20, the ministry summoned the Italian Ambassador to Tehran Paola Amadei, "to convey our country's firm protest against the Canadian government's illegal action," the official IRNA news agency reported.
According to the state media, tensions have been high between the two countries since they broke off diplomatic relations. In the absence of a diplomatic mission, Italy has been helping represent Canada's interests in Iran.
Ottawa's move will bar IRCG members from entering Canada and will prohibit Canadians from dealing with them. It also allows for the seizure of any assets the Guards or its members hold in Canada.
Canada and other nations are pursuing legal action against Iran at the International Court of Justice over the alleged downing of Ukraine International Airlines flight 752 in January 2020. The passenger jet was shot down shortly after take-off from Tehran, killing all 176 people on board. The flight had 85 Canadian citizens and permanent residents on board. Meanwhile, Iran had claimed that the missile strike was a mistake.
Moreover, Ottawa has previously listed the Quds Force, the Guards' foreign operations arm, as a terrorist entity, and permanently denied entry to more than 10,000 Iranian officials in 2022. The United States also designated the Guards as a foreign terrorist organization in April 2019 while the European Union sanctioned them this month for allegedly supplying drones to Russia and its allies in the Middle East.
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