Following similar actions by Bahrain and the United States, Canada has added Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its list of terrorist groups. This move came after years of advocacy by Canadian lawmakers and Iranian socio-political activists in Canada. In response, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs immediately condemned the decision. The IRGC is a significant military, political, and economic entity in Iran, closely linked to the country’s leader, Ali Khamenei.
The announcement was made by Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s Minister of Public Security, during a press conference on 19 June. “This action sends a strong message that Canada will use all of the tools at its disposal to combat the terrorist entity of the IRGC. Our government will ensure that there is no immunity for Iran’s unlawful actions and its support of terrorism,” LeBlanc emphasised.
LeBlanc stated that “Canada aims to ensure that the Iranian government faces consequences for its illegal activities and support of terrorism”, calling the decision “a crucial measure in the fight against global terrorism”. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau added, “the IRGC’s actions both within Iran and internationally undermine global law and order”.
Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, warned that Canadians in Iran might face a heightened risk of arbitrary detention after the announcement.
This decision means that IRGC commanders and troops are now banned from entering Canada. Those already in the country could be investigated and deported. Additionally, Canadian law allows the police to prosecute individuals providing financial or material support to terrorist organisations, and banks can freeze their assets.
The inclusion of the IRGC in Canada’s list of terrorist organisations has been a primary demand of Iranian Canadians opposing the Iranian regime. This demand grew stronger following the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane, which claimed the lives of many Iranian Canadians. It was further fuelled by the Jin, Jiyan, Azadî (Woman, Life, Freedom) uprising in 2022. Germany and other European nations have also begun efforts to add the IRGC to their terrorist lists.
Hamed Esmailiyoun, an opposition figure to the Islamic Republic of Iran and a member of the Association of the Families of the Ukrainian Flight Victims, played a significant role in the campaign to designate the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation. He welcomed the Canadian government’s decision and stated, “The Revolutionary Guards are responsible for brutally suppressing the youth of Iran. This military institution has jeopardized not only Iran’s security but also the security of the Middle East and the entire world.” He added, “We neither forgive nor forget the murderers of our loved ones and the murderers of Iran’s children.”
In response to Canada’s decision, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Nasser Kanani, criticised it as a “political, unconventional, and unwise move”. Kanani condemned Canada’s action, labelling it as an assault on Iran’s national sovereignty. He affirmed that Iran would respond in kind and within the bounds of international law to defend its rights against what he viewed as an unjust targeting of the Iranian nation and government.
The Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran, Ali Bagheri, commented on the situation, stating: “Canada’s illegal act of designating an integral part of our official military as a terrorist organisation is a malicious function that violates international law. It is a ridiculous gift to genocidal regimes, terrorists, and other enemies of regional peace and stability.” He further added that the Canadian government will be held responsible for the consequences of this “provocative and irresponsible” decision.
Kazem Gharibabadi, Secretary of Iran’s High Council for Human Rights and vice president for international affairs of the Judiciary, also strongly condemned Canada’s decision, denouncing it as hostile and contrary to established principles of international law.
According to the ISNA news agency, in response to the Canadian government’s decision, Iran summoned the Italian ambassador in Tehran, who represents Canadian interests, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 21 June. During the meeting, the Ministry issued a strong protest and warned of the potential consequences of this decision, as well as Iran’s planned countermeasures. The Italian ambassador pledged to convey Iran’s concerns to the Canadian government promptly.
Despite Canada having severed diplomatic ties with Iran years ago following the murder of Iranian-Canadian citizen Zahra Kazemi, citing concerns over Iran’s nuclear program and its support for Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian government, the country still hosts one of the largest communities of Iranian immigrants.
The IRGC are not only accused of inciting international terrorism through its global activities, but also engaging in various terrorist actions within Iran, particularly in Rojhelat (Iranian Kurdistan). These actions include the killing of civilians in Rojhelat during the Jin, Jiyan, Azadî uprising, the burning of forests in Kurdistan, the assassination of Kurdish leaders, including Dr. Abdurrahman Ghasemlu and Dr. Sharafkandi, and the forced disappearance of Kurdish fighters.
