Iran summons Italian ambassador to protest Canada’s blacklisting of IRGC

Iran’s Foreign Ministry has summoned the Italian ambassador to Tehran in protest at the Canadian government’s decision to blacklist the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) and designate it as a so-called “terrorist” entity.

Paola Amadei, whose country represents the Canadian interests in the Islamic Republic, was called in on Thursday by the Director-General for Americas at the Foreign Ministry.

The 59-year-old Italian diplomat received Tehran’s strong protest over Ottawa’s unlawful action that contradicts the rules of international law and was warned about the repercussions of such a move.

The Iranian diplomat also underscored the Islamic Republic’s right to take necessary measures and reciprocal actions.

The Italian ambassador indicated that she would bring the matter to Canadian officials as quickly as possible.

Iran: Canada’s blacklisting of IRGC ‘mindless gift to Israel, terrorists’

In a hostile move against Iran, Canada

In a hostile move against Iran, Canada's Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc Ottawa on Wednesday listed the IRGC as a “terrorist entity” under the Criminal Code and called on Canadians in Iran to leave.

Last month, the Canadian House of Commons adopted a non-binding resolution calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government to blacklist the IRGC and expel an estimated 700 Iranians.

The move makes Canada the second country in North America after the United States to blacklist the IRGC.

Canada broke off diplomatic ties with Iran and closed its Tehran embassy in a surprise move in 2012, citing various reasons, including Iran’s support for Syria, its nuclear work, and alleged threats to the Israeli regime.

In the same year, however, Ottawa took off the anti-Iran terrorist Mujahedin Khalq Organization (MKO) from its list of terrorist organizations.

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