Iranian FM Faces Criticism Despite Holding onto IRGC Delisting

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian receives Enrique Mora, the European coordinator for nuclear talks, in Tehran on Sunday. (EPA)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian receives Enrique Mora, the European coordinator for nuclear talks, in Tehran on Sunday. (EPA)
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Iranian FM Faces Criticism Despite Holding onto IRGC Delisting

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian receives Enrique Mora, the European coordinator for nuclear talks, in Tehran on Sunday. (EPA)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian receives Enrique Mora, the European coordinator for nuclear talks, in Tehran on Sunday. (EPA)

Iran’s demand from the US to remove the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from its terrorist list has transformed from an unresolved issue at the Vienna talks to an item for internal controversy among conservatives in the cleric-led country.

Controversy is raging in Tehran despite Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian confirming that the country was holding onto the condition for reaching a nuclear deal in Vienna. He had praised IRGC leaders for their sacrifice in greenlighting Iran avoiding any “obstacles” in the way of reviving the nuclear agreement.

In a televised interview, the minister said the delisting demand was one of the important issues at the negotiations, which conclude their first year next week.

He explained that the problem with negotiations lies in some of the important outstanding issues between Iran and the United States. Removing the IRGC terrorist designation is one of the issues on the agenda.

He said IRGC commanders do not object if the government gives up its demand from the US to remove the military organization from its Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) list.

He claimed that senior Revolutionary Guard officials always tell the government that it should do whatever it deems necessary to secure the country's national interests and not to prioritize the issue of the IRGC, calling it “self-sacrifice on the part of the IRGC.”

However, he added that despite having the “permission” from the IRGC, the government continues to consider its removal from the US list of terror organizations as a “major issue” in the talks.

The misinterpretation, or imprecise quotation, of Amirabdollahian’s remarks on Saturday prompted scathing criticism from some hardliners in Iran.

The ultra-hardliner chief editor of Kayhan newspaper, Hossein Shariatmadari, harshly attacked the FM, describing his remarks as “very odd and unexpected.”

Shariatmadari, appointed by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, said to forgo the IRGC delisting was “surrender,” not “sacrifice.”

“These remarks could suggest that Iran's foreign minister is not blessed with the adequate and necessary command of current affairs in his domain of responsibility,” he wrote and urged IRGC commanders to correct the Amirabdollahian’s remarks.



Tens of Thousands Protest in The Hague Against Gaza War

Thousands of people, some waving the Palestinian flag, gather against the Dutch government's Israel policy, as they protest on Malieveld, in The Hague on May 18, 2025. (AFP)
Thousands of people, some waving the Palestinian flag, gather against the Dutch government's Israel policy, as they protest on Malieveld, in The Hague on May 18, 2025. (AFP)
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Tens of Thousands Protest in The Hague Against Gaza War

Thousands of people, some waving the Palestinian flag, gather against the Dutch government's Israel policy, as they protest on Malieveld, in The Hague on May 18, 2025. (AFP)
Thousands of people, some waving the Palestinian flag, gather against the Dutch government's Israel policy, as they protest on Malieveld, in The Hague on May 18, 2025. (AFP)

Tens of thousands of protesters marched through The Hague on Sunday demanding a tougher stance from the Dutch government against Israel's war in Gaza.

Organizer Oxfam Novib said around 100,000 protesters had joined the march, most dressed in red expressing their desire for a "red line" against Israel's siege on Gaza, where it has cut off medical, food and fuel supplies.

The march also passed the seat of the International Court of Justice, which is hearing a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide and last year ordered Israel to halt a military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah.

Israel dismisses accusations of genocide as baseless and has argued in court that its operations in Gaza are self defense and targeted at Hamas fighters who attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

Oxfam Novib said the Dutch government had ignored what it said were war crimes committed by Israel in Gaza, and urged protesters to demand a tougher line.

Dutch Foreign Affairs minister Caspar Veldkamp earlier this month said he wanted the EU to reconsider cooperation agreements it has with Israel.

But the Dutch government has so far refrained from harsher criticism, and the leader of the largest party in the government coalition, anti-Muslim populist Geert Wilders, has repeatedly voiced unwavering support for Israel.

Wilders called Sunday's protesters "confused" and accused them in a post on X of supporting Hamas.