Iran Criticizes Canada for Designating Revolutionary Guard as a Terrorist Group
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Photo: X/ @rashadzali1
June 20, 2024 Hour: 9:57 am
‘We strongly condemn the hostile action against the principles of international law,’ Qaribabadi said.
On Wednesday, Kazem Qaribabadi, the secretary of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights, rejected the inclusion of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the Canadian list of international terrorist organizations.
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“We strongly condemn the hostile action against the principles of international law. It is a bitter irony that a country that is one of the main violators of human rights and a supporter of terrorism has placed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on its self-proclaimed list of terrorists,” he said, referring to the measure announced by the Canadian Public Safety Ministry.
Qaribabadi recalled Canada’s dark history of mistreatment of Indigenous peoples and its support for the anti-Iranian cult Mujahedin-e Khalq (MKO), which was removed from the Canadian list of terrorist organizations by Ottawa authorities in 2012.
The secretary of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights emphasized the importance of the IRGC in safeguarding the national security of the Persian nation and in the fight against terrorism in Western Asia.
In early May, the House of Commons of the Canadian Parliament approved a motion requesting the classification of the Iranian Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. That resolution, however, had no binding consequences for the Ottawa government.
At that time, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Naser Kanani described the Canadian action as “reckless, hostile, and contrary to the fundamental norms and principles of international law, including the sovereign equality of states and non-interference in internal affairs.”
“This irresponsible action follows an erroneous course in which the representatives of the Canadian Parliament have been influenced for more than a decade by the Zionist regime and in alignment with some globally rejected groups that lack legitimacy and value,” he said.
“The IRGC, along with other components of the Armed Forces, has the responsibility of protecting the country’s security and borders, as well as contributing to regional security and stability through the fight against the nefarious phenomenon of terrorism.”
In 2012, Canada unexpectedly broke off diplomatic relations with Iran, using as pretexts Iran’s support for Syria, the advancement of the Iranian nuclear program, and alleged Iranian threats to Israel.
Sources: HispanTV – EFE
teleSUR/ JF
