image credit: the times of Isreal

The major Iranian military, political, and economic power is IRGC.
Canada labeled Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist group after years of lobbying from opposition MPs and Iranian diaspora.
On Wednesday, Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc called it a “significant tool in fighting global terrorism.”
The bill would bar thousands of top Iranian officials, including IRGC commanders, from entering Canada.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokeswoman criticized the “unwise and unconventional” decision, Fars added.
The Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei-linked IRGC is a powerful military, political, and economic organization in Iran.
Iran’s land, naval, and air forces’ strategic weapons are controlled by about 190,000 men.
The government claims that the IRGC’s covert foreign operations wing, the Quds (Jerusalem) Force, sends money, weapons, technology, training, and advice to Middle Eastern allies and armed groups.
Canada has branded the Quds Force a terrorist group, but Wednesday’s measure covers the IRGC.
Mr. LeBlanc told reporters that the legislation “sends a strong message that Canada will use all of its tools to combat the terrorist entity of the IRGC”.
He said the Iranian regime often violates human rights within and outside Iran and destabilizes the international rules-based system.
This categorization lets Canada investigate and remove top Iranian government leaders.
Canada’s foreign minister, Melanie Joly, warned that the announcement might lead to arbitrary incarceration of Canadians in Iran.
“My message is clear: for those in Iran right now, come home,” said.
We advise against Iran travel.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani branded Canada’s move “an unwise and unconventional politically-motivated step”.
“Canada’s action will not have any effect on the Revolutionary Guards’ legitimate and deterrent power,” said.
Despite demand from diaspora members, notably the families of Flight PS752’s January 2020 Tehran shootdown victims, the Canadian government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau declined to designate the IRGC a terrorist organization.
The airplane killed all 175 passengers, including 55 Canadians and 30 permanent residents.
Tehran denied the aircraft missile attack was intentional.
In 2022, Mr. Trudeau said a terrorist categorization would unfairly punish Iranians in Canada who opposed the government and fled yet served in the IRGC.
Mr. LeBlanc told reporters that a “deliberative process” combining security agencies and foreign policy designates a group a terrorist organization.
He stated that Canadian criminal law requires that degree.
Canada is the second North American country after the US to label the IRGC a terrorist organization in 2019.
The UK intended a similar move in 2023 but hasn’t.