Iran warns US against blacklisting IRGC

Iran's army chief on Monday warned the US against blacklisting the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, mainly because of Iran's missile programme, Press TV reported.

"Marking the IRGC along with terrorist groups and imposing similar sanctions on it is a big risk for the Americans, for their bases and their forces in the region," Chief of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Hossein Baqeri said.

A bill introduced in the US Senate in May, if passed by the Congress and implemented by the the State Department, would label the IRGC as a terrorist group and trigger sanctions on it.

Baqeri warned the US against "wrong calculations" regarding the Islamic Republic, including its planned sanctions and possible blacklisting of the IRGC.

"American officials are advised to talk somewhat wiser, more measured and mature to other countries, especially a country like Iran that has stood against all conspiracies with pride and strength, and no longer play with their honour," he was quoted as saying.

Baqeri also stressed that Iran's advanced missile power is "defensive and non-negotiable".

He said that despite the continuing plots and threats from the enemies since decades, the Islamic republic has been able to defend its borders and overcome terrorism.

Baqeri called for more readiness to thwart emerging security threats by some powers and their regional allies, including Israel, against Iran.

On May 10, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said that Iran would increase its missile capabilities despite the enemies' propaganda against it.

The US officials have said Iran's ballistic missile launches are threats to the US interests in the world.

The Iranian officials unanimously called the missile tests the "inalienable right" of the country to boost deterrent power.

--IANS

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