Canada Lists Iran’s IRGC as a Terrorist Group: Enforcement Underway

Canada has officially listed Iran‘s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, effective immediately following the announcement by Minister Dominic LeBlanc. The decision aims to combat the IRGC’s alleged terrorist activities and associations.

This designation mandates immediate asset freezes and criminalizes any dealings with property linked to the IRGC in Canada and abroad, under the Criminal Code. This move comes after the tragic downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 in Tehran, where 55 Canadians lost their lives.

Prime Minister Trudeau had already signaled openness to this listing, especially in light of the fatal incident involving the IRGC. The IRGC’s reputation for human rights violations both domestically and abroad has been a key factor in this decision.

The IRGC’s inclusion on Canada’s list of terrorist groups puts them in the company of other globally recognized terrorist organizations such as Hizballah, Hamas, and al Qaeda, among others. Recently, the IRGC’s missile attacks on Israel led to Canada imposing sanctions on Iran’s defense minister.

Foreign Minister Melanie Joly consulted with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken ahead of this decision, highlighting international cooperation on security matters. The move has garnered criticism from the Conservative Party for perceived delays and the growing influence of the IRGC.

Opposition parties, including the NDP, generally support this move but have criticized the ruling party for what they view as a prolonged process in listing the IRGC as a terrorist group. Attorney General Arif Virani assures that investigations will be fair, considering the complexity of ties to the IRGC.