Trump’s New Gift to Netanyahu: IRGC “Terrorist”?!

By Staff- Agencies

The Trump administration is reportedly preparing to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps [IRGC] as a foreign terrorist organization, the first such designation of another country’s military, as early as next Monday.

The designation might come as early as Monday, three US officials told Reuters and the Wall Street Journal, speaking on condition of anonymity. Such a move would be a major escalation of the Trump administration’s policy against Iran, which began with the pullout from the nuclear deal last May and continued with the re-imposition of sanctions suspended under the 2015 agreement. 

The timing of the announcement is especially interesting, given that Netanyahu is facing a tough election next Tuesday. In addition to ditching the nuclear deal, US President Donald Trump has made several other moves in support of Netanyahu, including the relocation of the US embassy in “Israel” to Occupied Al-Quds and the recent recognition of the Golan Heights as “Israeli”, which it has occupied since the 1967 war.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal said that the Pentagon and the CIA had reservations about the move, saying it would increase risks for US troops without doing much more to damage the Iranian economy.