The United States has once again called on the United Kingdom to designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
The move comes in the wake of allegations of Tehran's complicity in the war waged by Iran-backed proxy Hamas against Israel on October 7. In one day, thousands of Hamas terrorists brutally massacred at least 1,400 civilians in Israel, including babies and elderly, and at least 212 hostages from over 40 nationalities were abducted into Gaza.
The Biden administration has publicly urged its allies, including the UK, to join efforts in designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization due to its alleged involvement in terrorism on a global scale. The IRGC has been banned in the United States since 2019.
Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the US State Department, said, "We absolutely think that other countries should designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. It’s a position that we’ve made clear a number of times."
The move adds to the mounting pressure within the UK to proscribe the IRGC, as several members of the Conservative Party have publicly called for action. Additionally, Robin Simcox, the Government's counter-extremism tsar, described the continued legality of membership and support for the group as "unsustainable."
The US firmly believes that the IRGC is involved in numerous global attacks and top UK ministers and security officials such as the head of MI5, have reiterated the dangers posed by the Islamic Republic on British soil.
The IRGC was initially established as a custodian of Iran's 1979 revolution's ideological principles. Over time, it has transformed into a significant force, encompassing military, political, and economic aspects within the country.