Iran to Label Canadian Armed Forces and RCMP as Terrorist Organizations
Iranian parliamentarians are urging their government to designate Canada’s army and RCMP as terrorist organizations in retaliation for Ottawa’s recent decision to label the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity.
These legislators are urging the Iranian Foreign Ministry to utilize all political and international channels to condemn Canada’s “hostile action” of designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
The Iranian parliament criticized the Canadian government for being a strong supporter of Israel and claimed that blacklisting the IRGC goes against international law.
Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced the designation of IRGC as a terrorist entity during a press conference on June 19.
Mr. LeBlanc stated, “The Iranian regime has consistently shown disregard for human rights, both within and outside Iran, and has shown a willingness to disrupt the international rules-based order.” He added that current and former senior Iranian officials in Canada could face investigation and expulsion.
This action follows a unanimous vote by MPs approximately a month ago, supporting a non-binding motion to designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended the timing of the decision, emphasizing the significant implications it carried during a statement to reporters on June 20.
Mr. Trudeau stated, “We understand that this will have real consequences for members of the Iranian community in Canada and potentially their families in their home country. That’s why we took the necessary time to handle this matter correctly,”
The prime minister also highlighted the Iranian regime’s focus on destabilizing democracies and creating chaos, which led to the federal government’s decision to label the IRGC as a terrorist group.
Canada had previously designated the Quds Force, a division of the IRGC, as a terrorist organization. Other entities on the terrorist list include Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Taliban.
Matthew Horwood contributed to this report.