Iran condemned Canada’s listing of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a “terrorist organization,” stating that the move is an unwise and politically motivated step which will have no effect on the military’s functioning.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said: “Canada’s action will not have any effect on the Revolutionary Guards’ legitimate and deterrent power.”
Iran reserves the right to respond accordingly to the listing, he added.
Canada listed Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a “terrorist organization” on Wednesday, which could facilitate prosecutions against former senior Iranian officials living in Canada.
The United States took a similar step in 2019 against Iran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is a branch of Iran's Armed Forces, established after the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Its primary purpose is to protect Iran's Islamic Republic system, preventing internal dissidence and military uprisings. Unlike the regular Iranian military, which defends Iran's borders and maintains internal order, the IRGC focuses on preserving the regime and its values.