Revolutionary Guards commander-in-chief, Maj. Gen. Hossein Salami, is received by Supreme Leader, Tehran, Iran, April 2019
UPDATE 0850 GMT:
The US, acting in conjunction with the European Union and the UK, sanctioned another 10 Iranian officials on Monday.
Those cited include Deputy Intelligence Minister Naser Rashedi and Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commanders Hossein Tanavar, Mohammad Nazar Azimi, Kourosh Asiabani, and Mojtaba Fada.
The US Treasury said, “Azimi and Asiabani command IRGC units that have allegedly committed some of the worst acts by Iranian security forces since the beginning of protests in September 2022.”
The statement noted that Guards-led forces have used live fire to kill and wound dozens of protesters.
It added, “The IRGC has shelled vehicles attempting to deliver blood bags to those wounded in local hospitals, preventing their delivery.”
The sanctions also designate the IRGC’s Cooperative Foundation and five of its board members. The “economic conglomerate” controls manufacturing and construction and other large sectors of the Iranian economy.
UPDATE, JAN 24:
The European Union has sanctioned more than 30 Iranian officials and organisations, including units of the Revolutionary Guards, over the “brutal” crackdown on 18-week nationwide protests and other abuses of human rights.
However, the EU did not follow the European Parliament’s recommendation to label the Guards as a “terrorist organization”.
Foreign Ministers of the EU’s 27 nations made the decisions at a meeting in Brussels on Monday.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the Guards could only be designated as “terrorist” if a court in an EU country determined the organization was guilty of terrorism.
“You cannot say ‘I consider you a terrorist because I don’t like you’,” he told reporters.
The sanctions cover another 18 individuals and 19 entities, with freezing of assets inside the EU and a ban on travel to the bloc.
Sweden, which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said the sanctions targeted “those driving the repression”. Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom tweeted:
At today’s #FAC the Ministers adopted a new package of sanctions against #Iran, targeting those driving the repression.
The EU strongly condemns the brutal and disproportionate use of force by the Iranian authorities against peaceful protesters. @TobiasBillstrom pic.twitter.com/cNeXZCTK79
— Swedish Presidency of the Council of the EU (@sweden2023eu) January 23, 2023
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani blustered, “The Islamic Republic will soon announce the list of new sanctions against the human rights violators of EU and England.”
ORIGINAL ENTRY, JAN 19: The European Parliament, in a vote of 598-9 with 31 abstentions, has cited Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps as a “terrorist organization”.
The resolution cited “the brutal crackdown by Iran, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), on the demonstrations after the death of Mahsa Amini, following her violent arrest, abuse and ill-treatment by Iran’s ‘morality police’.”
See also UPDATES: Iran Protests — Gas Shortages Across The Country
The European Parliament cannot compel the EU to add the Revolutionary Guards to the terrorist list. But MEPs called on the European Union’s leadership and member states to include the IRGC “in the light of its terrorist activity, the repression of protesters, and its supplying of drones to Russia” for Moscow’s attacks on Ukraine.
See also Ukraine War, Day 270: Iran to Make Drones in Russia — Western Officials
Under formal designaton of the Guards as a terrorist group, membership is a criminal offense. All IRGC assets within the EU bloc would be frozen, and it could not receive funds from EU citizens or businesses.
The EU is considering a fourth round of sanctions against Iran amid the regime’s crackdown on 18-week nationwide protests. “Diplomatic sources” says individual Guards members will be added to the sanctions list next week.
The US designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization in 2019. The UK is expected to take similar action in the next few weeks.
On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian warned the EU against the designation. He told the bloc’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell:
We have repeatedly said the Revolutionary Guards are a formal and sovereign organisation whose role is central for guaranteeing Iran’s security. Steps taken by the European Parliament to list the organisation as terrorist are in a way a shot in the foot of Europe itself.
The Iranian military’s General Staff added, “The recent move by the European Parliament, in addition to being a heresy in international rules and regulations, will affect regional and global security, tranquility and peace, and the European Parliament must be careful about its consequences.”
Iran Athlete Says ‘No Regrets’ After Losing Eye At Protest
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-athlete-no-regrets-losing-eye-protest/32237626.html
[Editor’s Note: The headline and sub-heading of the Foreign Policy are a distortion of the content. The analysis is not a dismissal of the protests — to the contrary, it says they are a significant challenge to the legitimacy of the regime — while assessing that they are unlikely to lead to a change of system in 2023.]
Iran’s Protests Are Nowhere Near Revolutionary: https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/01/17/irans-protests-are-nowhere-near-revolutionary/
Many say the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement will threaten the regime this year. They’re wrong.
Someone should tell khamenei to cheer up then, if he is secure….
“Iranian Soccer Player Scores Goal, Doesn’t Celebrate, Gets Banned By Government ”
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-soccer-player-shekari-banned-supporting-protesters/32237418.html
“…it says they are a significant challenge to the legitimacy of the regime — while assessing that they are unlikely to lead to a change of system in 2023”
Scott, we are passed the question of legitimacy, the regime is so fragile on all fronts despite its brutal response that a couple of knock out punches can crumble it to the ground. To repair the damage they have caused to the country is so vast and deep that takes real experts and know how, AND people who are willing to go head to head with irgc. That is an impossible find in iri. How will it exactly go? You bring educated, honest, and caring people to face thugs of irgc? to compete with armed gangs of the regime? That will be something to watch. There are no miracles here. If anyone writes articles predicting regime survival also should include how this playing out….
The regime will fall. When? When the knock out punches are delivered. It is not if, it is when.
[Editor’s Note: A fundamental mistake by the commenter — the editor writes *both* the headline and sub-heading.]
The headline and sub-heading were written by the editor and author, respectively.
Panama has canceled registry to 136 Iran-linked vessels
https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/panama-has-canceled-registry-136-iran-linked-vessels-2023-01-18/
Rights Group Says Iranian Security Forces Closing Roads Around Zahedan To Preempt Protests
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-rights-security-forces-closing-roads-zahedan-protests/32230871.html
Two old timer athletes, and wrestling coaches (khadem brothers) blast raisi for his broken promises of his election.
“lowering exchange rates, your car prices, your low food prices, your 4mln housing, etc ….Never mind what ordinary people think, even your inner circle don’t know where they stand….”
https://www.radiofarda.com/a/criticism-iranian-wrestling-brothers/32230444.html
Long line up with people, cars and trucks at gas stations across the country
https://www.iranintl.com/202301199725
Family Of Young Iranian Protester In Coma Reportedly Moved, Kept Incommunicado
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-panahi-coma-family-moved-police-beaten/32229414.html
“The Kurdpa news agency confirmed on January 17 that Panahi’s family was taken from their home to a government apartment in the western Iranian city of Sanandaj and have been forbidden from meeting or contacting anyone.”
In islamic republic you get 15 years prison sentence, for killing your wife by beheading you get 8 years
Iranian Man Sentenced To Eight Years For Beheading 17-Year-Old Wife
https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-wife-beheading-heidarnava-8-years-prison/32229112.html
15 years for setting a trash can on fire….