Zarif says Iran will not allow outlaw bullies to destroy IRGC legacy, sacrifices

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has defended the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), saying the country will not allow “outlaw bullies” to undermine the sacrifices of the force.

The top Iranian diplomat met with IRGC commanders in Tehran on Wednesday, two days after the US designated the force as a terrorist organization.   

In a post on Twitter following the meeting, Zarif hailed the sacrifices made by the IRGC and said Iran would not allow bullying powers to destroy its legacy.  

“Honored to meet top cmdrs of #IRGC. Our armed forces sacrificed to defend our nation, region & the world against Saddam & ISIS. We'll never forget their sacrifice-nor will we allow outlaw bullies to destroy their legacy by fuelling insecurity & instability. Nor should the world,” said the tweet.

The administration of US President Donald Trump designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization on Monday through an official statement.

"This designation will be the first time that the United States has ever named a part of another government as a FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organization)," Trump said in his statement, adding that "this action will significantly expand the scope and scale of our maximum pressure on the Iranian" government.

Following Trump's statement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned all banks and business of the consequences of dealing with the IRGC, saying, “Businesses and banks around the world now have a clear duty to ensure that companies with which they conduct financial transactions are not connected with the IRGC in any material way."

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In another post on Twitter on Wednesday, Zarif released a video of a 2016 presidential debate between Trump and his rival Hillary Clinton, during which he talked about Iran killing Daesh terrorists and said, “When @realdonaldtrump insisted that "Iran is killing ISIS", exactly who did he think was doing the fighting & making the sacrifice?”

The Iranian foreign minister said if it were not for the IRGC’s fight against terrorists in Iraq and Syria, Daesh would occupy the capitals of the two Arab countries and spread its militancy to Europe.

“ISIS would've held two Arab capitals & fielded a Terrorist Army on Europe's doorstep had #IRGC not fought alongside brave peoples of Iraq & Syria,” added the tweet.

Shortly after the US blacklisting of the IRGC, Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) slammed the US government as "supporter of terrorism," and designated American forces in West Asia, known as the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), as a "terrorist organization."

Zarif had proposed that the SNSC should add American forces in West Asia to its list of terrorist groups in the Islamic Republic.

The US had already blacklisted dozens of entities and individuals affiliated with the IRGC, but not the entire force.

Read more: 

• Iran's IRGC vows to teach enemies ‘unforgettable lesson’

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