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Expanded Illegal US Sanctions On Iran’s IRGC |
| By
Stephen Lendman |
| In mid-October, Trump announced tough (illegal) sanctions on Iran’s Islamic
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), falsely accusing it of supporting terrorism. On Tuesday, the Treasury Department expanded them, repeating false charges of terrorism - a US specialty. Iran’s IRGC Aerospace Force Self Sufficiency Jihad Organization, Air Force, Al-Ghadir Missile Command, and Research and Self-Sufficiency Jihad Organization were targeted - along with the IRGC commander-in-chief and other Iranian officials. It’s government pledged to “strongly respond to any action against its military forces.” IRGC commander Mohammad Ali Jafari vowed to equate US forces with ISIS before sanctions were imposed. According to government spokesman Mohammad Baker, labelling the IRGC a “terrorist group” means Washington supports terrorists, an indisputable fact. Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman earlier warned his government’s reaction to designating the IRGC a terrorist organization would be “firm and crushing.” Russia blasted expanded US sanctions on Iran’s IRGC, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, saying “(o)ur approach to unilateral sanctions is universal.” “We consider such practices illegal, contrary to international law and the basic principles of interstate communication.” America uses sanctions as “a key tool of (its) foreign policy.” After Trump’ mid-October announcement, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said his government stands firmly behind the IRGC. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted: “Today, Iranians--boys, girls, men, women--are ALL IRGC; standing firm with those who defend us & the region against aggression & terror.” IRGC spokesman General Massoud Jazayeri said “(t)he IRGC is today more powerfully disrupting US leaders’ filthy schemes one after another, and on the rest of this path, many things remain unsaid…(T)he Trump administration will see their outward manifestations all in good time.” A Final Comment On Wednesday, Vladimir Putin arrived in Tehran. His visit shows solidarity with Iran’s government, both countries allied politically, economically, and militarily in combating US-supported terrorists in Syria. Putin will hold talks with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev - three-party discussions on economic cooperation, including energy, infrastructure projects, and the western branch of the North-South Transport Corridor railway line. Geopolitical issues will also be discussed, including combating terrorism, conditions in Syria and the Iran Nuclear deal Trump wants undermined. An earlier Kremlin press release said talks will focus on “the most pressing issues concerning cooperation between Russian, Azerbaijan and Iran in the political, economic, cultural and humanitarian fields.” VISIT MY NEW WEB SITE: stephenlendman.org (Home - Stephen Lendman). Contact at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. My newest book as editor and contributor is titled "Flashpoint in Ukraine: How the US Drive for Hegemony Risks WW III." http://www.claritypress.com/LendmanIII.html |