Washington welcomed on Thursday Canada’s designation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as terrorist, saying it was prepared to provide intelligence information to allies that are considering following in Ottawa’s footsteps.
Ottawa on Wednesday listed the IRGC as a terrorist entity while calling on Canadians in Iran to leave. The United States took a similar step in April 2019.
Ottawa has previously listed the Quds Force, a branch of the Guards, as a terrorist entity, and in 2022 permanently denied entry to more than 10,000 Iranian officials, including members of the Guards.
"Our government has made the decision to list the IRGC as a terrorist entity under the Criminal Code," Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc told a news conference.
Flanked by Canada's foreign and justice ministers, he accused the Iranian regime of "support for terrorism" and "having consistently displayed disregard for human rights both inside and outside of Iran, as well as a willingness to destabilize the international rules-based order."
US State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller said Washington welcomes Canada’s designation.
"The IRGC’s terrorism and lethal plotting threatens the entire world, and we stand ready to provide support as countries – other countries consider designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization," he added.
"We can provide information to them about activities that they have undertaken, something we often do in sharing intelligence information and other information with our allies and partners about activities that we have seen any supporters of terrorists – terrorism take around the world," he went on to say.
Iran vowed on Thursday to respond to Canada’s "irresponsible" decision, holding Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s government responsible for the repercussions.
Iran's foreign ministry summoned Italy's envoy, who represents Canadian interests in Tehran, to protest against Canada's move, state media reported on Friday.
Separately, Miller said: "Iran continues to expand its nuclear program in ways that have no credible peaceful purpose."
"We remain deeply concerned with Iran’s nuclear activities and will continue to vigilantly monitor them," he stressed.
"Iran must cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) without further delay," he demanded.
However, Miller noted: "We do not see indications that Iran is currently undertaking the key activities that we would – that would be necessary to produce a testable nuclear device, but of course this is something we continue to monitor very closely."
