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By\u00a0Amir Taghati<\/p>\n
The US government has designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, IRGC, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) \u2014 a move that infuriated Iran\u2019s regime officials.<\/p>\n
Regime analyst, Amir-Ali Abolfath, said after learning of the designation, \u201cWhen a group or an organization is designated as foreign terrorist organization, the entire security, intelligence and military apparatus of the United States get involved in confronting this terrorist entity, and would kill or capture any of its elements when they are caught.\u201d Referring to Quds force footprint in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and elsewhere, Abolfathi continued, \u201cIf this designation becomes final, all of the IRGC forces, basis, and infrastructure would be considered the legitimate terrorist targets and a US military attack on forces and infrastructure would become warranted.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donyaye Eghtesad (The Economic World), a government-run newspaper published Abolfathi\u2019s remarks, as well as US claims that the IRGC has complete domination and control over Iran\u2019s economy. They wrote that if this designation is approved, Iran\u2019s business counterparts outside the country must stop doing business with Iran or face penalties from the US government.<\/p>\n
Ali Khorram, former Iranian regime envoy to China warned of the consequences of such a designation, \u201cSuch a move would pave new ways for social unrest in Iran. Since the recent protests in Iran were centered on economic shortcomings such as skyrocketing inflation and unemployment, shortage of goods and services, environmental crisis and even people\u2019s anger toward the government, the designation would turn these economic grievances into political demands. Even if the social problems we are facing result in only economic complaints, it would be foreseeable to consider that the protesters accuse the government the main responsible party for their problems.\u201d<\/p>\n
The IRGC\u2019s FTO designation has angered the regime. Fear of economic bankruptcy, and fear of military repercussion has the regime enraged.<\/p>\n
Hamdeli newspaper wrote, \u201cWithout any doubt, these sanctions following the economic disasters and Iran\u2019s regional and global policies, to American senators, would be a way to break the back of the country\u2019s economy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Inside the country, the IRCG has become a target for the people\u2019s acrimony following the recent flash floods in most parts of Iran, which many blame on the IRCG\u2019s rerouting of water to save their own property, along with the government\u2019s agonizing slowness in sending relief to the devastated areas.<\/p>\n
The \u2018new outbreak of social protests\u2019 together with \u2018the turning off of the economy\u2019 has the regime\u2019s fearful of the movement toward toppling the regime.<\/p>\n
The IRGC controls a major portion of the country\u2019s economy and its first and foremost duty is to salvage the Velayat-e Fagih (the guardianship of clergies). It has been an essential tool that\u2019s prolonged the rule of the regime.<\/p>\n
Their fear of the people\u2019s rage played the role in the Fajr Corps in Fars Province, southeastern Iran, where a statement was issued that attempted to bully the people and the Iranian opposition, the PMOI\/MEK. In fact, instead of concentrating on the relief efforts for the flood-hit areas, the repressive forces were dispatched to confront any protests. However, they were met with a tough response from the residents and especially the youth.<\/p>\n
Considering the importance of the IRCG\u2019s role in Iran\u2019s government, the FTO designation has created great concern for government officials.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
By Amir Taghati The US government has designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, IRGC, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) — a move that infuriated Iran’s regime officials. Regime analyst, Amir-Ali […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":52989,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[178],"class_list":{"0":"post-26055","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-terrorism-a-fundamentalism","8":"tag-save"},"yoast_head":"\n