Canada Considers Adding IRGC to Terror List

Ottawa is reportedly planning to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, according to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC). While the details are still being finalized, this move follows longstanding demands from opposition legislators. The Liberal government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, had previously hesitated due to concerns about unintended consequences, such as unfairly targeting Iranians in Canada who were conscripted into the IRGC. Canada already lists the IRGC’s Quds Force as a terrorist group and severed diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2012. Designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization would allow Canadian authorities to charge individuals who support the group and freeze its assets. In October 2022, Canada banned the IRGC’s top leaders from entering the country and imposed targeted sanctions, with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland labeling the IRGC a terrorist organization. The IRGC is a significant power in Iran, controlling a vast business empire and elite forces, but Iran denies engaging in global terrorism. The office of Foreign Minister Melanie Joly did not comment on the CBC report.