Blacklisting IRGC to Drag US into Quagmire

“#NetanyahuFirsters who have long agitated for FTO designation of the IRGC fully understand its consequences for US forces in the region. In fact, they seek to drag US into a quagmire on his behalf,” Zarif said on his Twitter account on Sunday night.

“@realDonaldTrump should know better than to be conned into another US disaster,” he added in his tweet.

The administration of US President Donald Trump is expected to designate the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization as early as next week, according to a US official.

The designation decision, formally under the State Department's purview, has been made as part of the White House's increasingly aggressive strategy towards Iran.

The US has already blacklisted dozens of entities and individuals affiliated with the IRGC, but not the entire force.

The IRGC, which has roughly 125,000 military personnel and enjoys growing public support, is also actively cooperating in construction, infrastructure and relief projects.

On Sunday, the majority of Iranian lawmakers expressed their full support for the country’s Armed Forces, particularly the IRGC, pledging to respond in kind to any action taken by the US against the elite force.

In a statement read out at the Iranian Parliament, 255 lawmakers emphasized that the security of Iran and its Armed Forces are major red lines for the country’s parliamentarians.

“In case of any measure by the US president or any other institution against the IRGC, we will start a double-urgency reciprocal measure, which will make the US leaders, who have been behind the formation of terrorist groups in the region and supported them, regret their stupid move," the Iranian lawmakers’ statement said.

It added that the IRGC is one of the greatest achievements of the Iranian people, which has its roots in the Article 150 of the Iranian Constitution as a branch of the country’s Armed Forces … and has helped regional governments and nations a great deal in the fight against terrorism.

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