Iran warns of putting US military on terrorist list
A senior Iranian official has warned that he will respond appropriately to the US' intention to designate the country's Guards as a terrorist group.
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US Marines during a military exercise with South Korea on the coast of Pohang in March 2012. Photo:AFP. |
"If the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is included in the US list of terrorist groups, we will put the US military on the terrorist blacklist along with the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) militant group," Chairman of the National Security Committee of the Iranian Parliament Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh said on April 6.
This is considered Tehran's response after three unnamed US officials said on April 5 that the US is preparing to put the IRGC on the list of terrorist organizations on April 8. This is the first time Washington has called a foreign military force a terrorist.
Relations between the United States and Iran have been tense since President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the Iran nuclear deal in May and reimposed sanctions on the country. He said the deal was a mistake because it did not include provisions to prevent Iran from developing ballistic missiles or supporting proxy wars in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and Iraq.
Iran meanwhile has ruled out any talks with the US on military capabilities, especially its missile program.
