Canada Designates Iran's IRGC as Terrorist Group

Canada has listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, after years of pressure from opposition legislators and some members of the Iranian diaspora.

Announcing the decision, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc called it a “significant tool in fighting global terrorism”.

Speaking to reporters, LeBlanc said the action “sends a strong message that Canada will use all of the tools at its disposal to combat the terrorist entity of the IRGC".

The move will mean that thousands of senior Iranian government officials, including top IRGC officials, will be barred from entering Canada.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani was quoted as describing Canada's move as "an unwise and unconventional politically-motivated step".

"Canada's action will not have any effect on the Revolutionary Guards' legitimate and deterrent power," he said.

The IRGC is a major military, political and economic force in Iran, with close ties to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

It is estimated to have more than 190,000 active personnel with its own ground forces, navy and air force that oversee Iran’s strategic weapons.

The IRGC exerts influence elsewhere in the Middle East by providing money, weapons, technology, training and advice to allied governments and armed groups through its shadowy overseas operations arm, the Quds Force, according to the government.

The Quds Force was already listed as a terrorist group by Canada, but this announcement extends the designation to the entire IRGC.

After this designation, current and former senior Iranian government officials already in Canada may also now be investigated and removed.

The move makes Canada the second country in North America after the US to label the IRGC as a terrorist organization, which did so in 2019.