Iran not to let US-backed terrorism threaten region: VP

In a statement on Tuesday, he reacted to the US Monday unwise move to designate Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) which is a part of the country's official armed forces as a terrorist entity. 

Outlining IRGC's outstanding record in fighting different types of terrorism in the region, Jahangiri said the Iranian government relying on the power of unity, resistance and national solidarity will not let the US- and the occupying regime-backed terrorism threatens the region once again.

The veep statement said the US April 8 decision to label IRGC as a terrorist group was an unprecedented, unwise and crisis-making measure in the domain of international policy and laws.

Such an illegal and unreasonable decision is a new form of US hostility against the powerful Iran and the Islamic Republic’s system which comes in line of sustaining sanctions and economic war against the Iranian nation and government, Jahangiri noted.

IRGC’s successful magnificent record on counter-terrorism regional measures which have led to defeat of the organized terrorism of Daesh (ISIS) is an obvious sign of Iran’s efforts to establish global security, peace and stability and its willingness to incline towards the world free from aggression and terrorism, Jahangiri stressed. 

Iranian officials have made different comments on the UN anti-IRGC move. The Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a letter to President Hassan Rouhani recommended that Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) should add American forces in West Asia, known as the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), to its terrorist groups' list.

In a related development, Chairman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh announced on April 8 before the US anti-IRGC decision that Iranian parliament has prepared a double-urgency bill which will be approved in case the US takes possible measures against IRGC.

Falahatpisheh said that if it happens, Iran declares the US military forces as a terrorist group like Daesh.