US State Department spokesman Ned Price described Iran as "the world's leading sponsor of terrorism."
During a press briefing in Washington, Price commented on the European Parliament's resolution to declare the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a foreign terrorist organization.
He confirmed that this is a recognition by European partners that "Iran is the world's leading sponsor of terrorism. There is no more nefarious exporter of international terrorism than Iran."
He pointed out that "there is no disagreement between the United States and our European allies on this. We're also clear-eyed about the need to cooperate to counter the threats posed by the IRGC over the past – well, certainly in recent years."
Referring to the suppression of widespread protests in Iran during the past months, Price noted that Europe, the United States, countries around the world, and regions around the world "have seen all too vivid demonstrations of the lethality of the IRGC, of its repugnant willingness to take innocent lives in its operations."
"We're committed to continuing to work with the EU and with other allies and partners on this very challenge."
He stressed that the United States condemned any threat to US citizens, noting that "we take such real threats seriously, and we're prepared to respond and respond decisively if appropriate."
However, Price did not comment on reports of a meeting between the US special envoy to Iran, Robert Malley, and Iran's permanent representative to the UN, Saeid Iravani.
The opposition "Iran International" website reported that Malley met with Iravani in New York at least three times during the last two months.
"We have the means to deliver specific and firm messages to Iran when it is in America's interest to do so," he said, adding that "we're not going to get into details about how we deliver these messages, except to say that we do so in close coordination with allies and partners."
Price said that the US has consistently conveyed three messages: stop killing peaceful protesters, stop selling weapons to Russia to kill Ukrainians, and release the US citizens that were wrongfully detained.
Furthermore, the Iranian representative denied the report, asserting that Iranian officials had not held any "discussions" with US officials.
Meanwhile, Senior Advisor at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies Richard Goldberg said that the US Congress should thoroughly investigate reports regarding a meeting between Malley and the Iranian ambassador.
Goldberg stated that anyone involved in this should be asked to testify, adding that all Americans should condemn this "betrayal of the Iranian people."
