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Canada has added Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its list of terrorist organizations following years of pressure from opposition lawmakers and some in the Iranian diaspora. Public Security Minister Dominique LeBlanc announced the decision on Wednesday, calling it “an essential tool in the fight against global terrorism.” The move will mean thousands of senior Iranian government officials, including senior IRGC officers, will be barred from entering Canada. Iran’s Fars news agency quoted a spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry as condemning what he called an “unwise and unconventional” move. The IRGC is Iran’s main military, political and economic force, closely aligned with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The group is estimated to have more than 190,000 active members, has its own ground forces, navy and air force, and oversees Iran’s strategic weapons. The IRGC, through its overseas operations arm the Quds (Jerusalem) Force, provides funding, weapons, technology, training and advice to allied governments and armed groups, according to the government, to exert influence elsewhere in the Middle East. The Quds Force was already on Canada’s list of terrorist organizations, but Wednesday’s announcement expands that list to the entire IRGC.Speaking to reporters, LeBlanc said the action “sends a strong message that Canada will use every tool at its disposal to combat the terrorist entity of the IRGC.” “The Iranian regime has a consistent disregard for human rights inside and outside Iran and is willing to undermine the rules-based international order,” he said. Current and former senior Iranian government officials already in Canada could also be subject to investigation and expulsion following the designation. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly warned that Canadians in Iran could be at risk of arbitrary detention following the announcement. “My message is clear: for those who are in Iran right now, it’s time to go home,” he said. “For those who were planning to go to Iran, don’t go.” In response, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser al-Khanani called Canada’s action a “politically unwise and unconventional step.” “Canada’s action will not affect the legitimate deterrent power of the IRGC,” he said. The Canadian government under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has previously refused to designate the IRGC as a terrorist state, despite pressure from some members of the diaspora, including families of those killed after Flight PS752 was shot down by the IRGC in January 2020. Tehran. All 175 passengers on board were killed, including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 Canadian permanent residents. Tehran claims the missile attack on the plane was a mistake. Trudeau previously said in 2022 that he was concerned that the terrorist designation would have an unfair impact on Iranians in Canada who oppose the current regime and have fled, but have served in the IRGC in the past. When asked by reporters why, Mr. LeBlanc said the decision to designate an organization as a terrorist entity is a “thoughtful process” made based on the advice of security services and foreign policy considerations. “That is the threshold that must be met under Canadian criminal law,” he said. The move makes Canada the second North American country to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization after the United States (in 2019). The United Kingdom previously expressed its intention to take similar action in 2023, but has not yet done so.
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