President Trump announced in a statement that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been designated a terrorist organization by the administration.
It is the first time that the United States has designated an entity within a foreign government as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).
“This action sends a clear message to Tehran that its support for terrorism has serious consequences,” the President explained, adding that the administration “recognizes the reality that Iran is not only a State Sponsor of Terrorism, but that the IRGC actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft.”
The Associated Press is reporting that the terrorist designation comes with additional sanctions, including increased financial pressure and raised costs for those working with the group.
“If you are doing business with the IRGC, you will be bankrolling terrorism,” the President warned.
I completely support Secretary Pompeo and the Trump Administration’s decision to label Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization.https://t.co/ch31eQv5Ml
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) April 8, 2019
“The leaders of Iran are not revolutionaries and people deserve better,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo added. “They are opportunists.”
Obama Played Nice
Such a bold declaration lies in stark contrast to Barack Obama’s administration, who continually played footsie with the Revolutionary Guard despite their many hostile acts.
The former President, so convinced that his Iran nuclear treaty would be the signature act of his two terms in office, once apologized to the IRGC when they detained ten American sailors in 2016.
General Ali Fadavi blasted the sailors for “unprofessional” acts, demanding an apology from then-Secretary of State John Kerry.
“This has been done,” Fadavi bragged, “and it will not take long, and the naval force, according to its hierarchy, will act immediately upon the orders it receives” to release the sailors.
Emboldened, the Revolutionary Guard later threatened the United States, declaring that Iran “will shut the Strait of Hormuz” and ‘kill the sedition’ of any country they deem ‘enemies.’
Compared Guard to Republicans
Obama even once compared the Revolutionary Guard to Republican congressmen, something the late Senator John McCain chastised him for “sink(ing) to a new low.”
“I think it’s somewhat ironic to see some members of Congress wanting to make common cause with the hardliners in Iran,” Obama said following a letter from Republicans to Iran warning that Congress could thwart the President’s cherished nuclear deal.
He later doubled-down and compared the Revolutionary Guard to conservatives in America.
“The truth of the matter is, inside of Iran, the people most opposed to the deal are the Revolutionary Guard, the Quds Force, hard-liners who are implacably opposed to any cooperation with the international community,” Obama said without evidence.
Pundit Charles Krauthammer blasted Obama as being ‘delusional.’
“It’s vintage Obama, the demonization of his opponent, the lumping them together with people chanting death to America, I must say is a new low for the president considering,” Krauthammer suggested. “What is even worse here is how delusional he is.”
Trump is now operating on reality, not delusion, by declaring the Guard to be a terrorist organization. And guess who’s going to be sharing ‘common cause’ with the hardliners now when the left criticizes him for it.
