By Al-Fassel | 2024-07-01

Canada has officially designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity, building on previous legal actions against the Iranian regime.

The Canadian government announced the listing June 19 based on its findings that "the IRGC has knowingly carried out, attempted to carry out, participated in or facilitated a terrorist activity."

On May 8, Canada's House of Commons unanimously designated the IRGC a terrorist organization in a non-binding vote.

"Canada will use all tools at its disposal to combat the terrorist activity of the IRGC, conducted both unilaterally and in knowing association with listed terrorist entities such as Hizbullah and Hamas," the government said.

The terrorism listing bars IRGC members from entering Canada and Canadians from having any dealings with individual members or the group. Any assets the IRGC or its members hold in Canada may also be seized.

"The Iranian regime has consistently displayed a complete disregard for human rights, both inside and outside Iran, as well as a willingness to destabilize the international rules-based order," Canada's Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said.

The listing builds on Canada's previous actions against the Iranian regime, which were already some of the strongest in the world.

In addition to specific sanctions related to Tehran's nuclear program, systematic human rights violations and corruption, Canada in 2012 designated the state of Iran a supporter of terrorism.

In 2017, it designated the Quds Force -- the IRGC's external arm -- a terror organization. In 2022, Canada permanently denied entry to more than 10,000 Iranian officials, including IRGC members.

The United States listed the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization in April 2019.

Earlier this month, the European Union also sanctioned the IRGC for supplying drones to Russia and its allies in the Middle East.

'Huge step forward'

Canada has been facing mounting pressure to declare the IRGC a terrorist group under its Criminal Code after Iran's unprecedented air strikes on Israel in April.

Iranian expats and families of the victims of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 have been calling on the government to designate the IRGC for years.

Two IRGC ground-to-air missiles downed Flight PS752 on January 8, 2020, as it was heading from Tehran to Kyiv, killing all 176 people on board, including 85 Canadian citizens and permanent residents.

Kourosh Doustshenas, speaking on behalf of the families of Flight PS752 victims, welcomed the IRGC's terrorism listing, calling it "a huge step forward in the search for justice for everyone who has been a victim of this organization."

Canada and other nations have sued Iran at the International Court of Justice over the downing of Flight PS752.

Tehran claimed the IRGC shot down the plane in a "catastrophic mistake."