Donald Trump and the US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, announced last week that the US had designated the guards as a foreign terrorist organization, marking the first time Washington has formally named a branch of the armed forces of a foreign government as a terrorist group.
The US move aims at “thwarting Iran’s influence” and shows that America’s longstanding sanctions against Iran have become ineffective, Hatami told lawmakers.
During the debate, some hardline lawmakers had demanded listing the entire US army and security forces as terrorist.
The TV report said 204 lawmakers approved the bill, out of 207 present at the session in the 290-seat chamber. Two lawmakers voted against the bill and one abstained.
However, it remains unclear how the bill’s passage in parliament would affect the Guard’s activities in the Persian Gulf, where the US navy has in the past accused Iranian patrol boats of harassing American warships.
The Revolutionary Guard has forces and wields influence in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, and is in charge of Iranian missiles that have US bases in their range.
The Guard’s designation – the first-ever for an entire division of another government – adds another layer of sanctions to the powerful paramilitary force and makes it a crime under US jurisdiction to provide it with material support.
Depending on how broadly “material support” is interpreted, the designation may complicate US diplomatic and military cooperation with certain third-country officials, notably in Iraq and Lebanon, who deal with the Guard.
Via: The Guardian
A senior Iranian official said on Saturday the United States had shown flexibility on the licensing of Iranian oil sales and this was a sign that Washington’s “maximum pressure”...
U.S. engages in threats to stop Iran oil sales to traditional clients - Zarif
G7 summit: Iran foreign minister makes surprise Biarritz appearance
Middle East scholars blame Trump for an Iran policy 40 years in the making
Zarif makes fresh push to save Iran deal, ease Gulf tensions
General: 76% of opium produced in the world is discovered in Iran
U.S. Sanctions are killing cancer patients in Iran: Foreign Policy
Iran says Britain might release seized Grace 1 oil tanker soon
Colorful handicrafts from Iran, Pakistan pull crowds at DECC
Copyright © 2013 Real Iran. powered by Wordpress.