TEHRAN – Iran on Monday hit out at Germany for trying to add the IRGC to the list of terrorist organizations, saying the force is an official military organization of the Islamic Republic and sanctioning it would be “a totally illegal act.”
German authorities’ decision to sanction the IRGC is in continuation of that country’s “irresponsible and unconstructive” approach to the Iranian government and nation, Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said.
He then urged Germany and other countries considering imposing sanctions against IRGC to “heed their unconstructive measures” and not to sacrifice their “mutual interests” for transitory political benefits and sentimental reasons.
“Statements by German officials about sanctioning the IRGC, following unconstructive and irresponsible actions by this country, emanates from their wrong approach toward the government and people of Iran,” Kanaani said.
Iran, he said, “hopes that Germany and other countries who have a plan in this regard, will pay attention to their unconstructive actions and not sacrifice their bilateral relations to passing political issues and emotional decisions.”
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said Sunday that her country and the European Union were examining whether to classify the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps as a terrorist organization.
“I made it clear last week that we will launch another package of sanctions, that we will examine how we can also list the Revolutionary Guards [IRGC] as a terrorist organization,” Baerbock said in an interview with ARD broadcaster.
The U.S. and Albania have also proposed an informal UN Security Council meeting to discuss the situation in Iran.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokesman on Monday dismissed the significance of the meeting and said the aim of the meeting is to put “political pressure on the Islamic Republic,” and is the continuation of a clear policy of interference by the American government in Iran’s internal developments.”
Kanaani criticized the U.S. for planning to ask Iranian expatriate activists to testify during the informal Security Council meeting, calling such individuals “known elements” with Iranian identity, who in the past never raised their voice against U.S. sanctions.