The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was set up after the 1979 revolution to safeguard the Ayatollah and his regime. It is separate from Iran’s armed forces, receives more funding, and is better equipped. Its influence within Iran rivals the police, judiciary, and religious establishment, and it owns at least one-third of its economy.
IRGC propaganda portrays Iran as threatened by American and ‘Zionist’ plots. This alleged foreign influence is how the IRGC justifies acts of terrorism abroad in ‘response’, which it has done consistently since the revolution. It has killed, tortured, and taken hostage many people over decades, some of whom are still in captivity today.
The IRGC has carried out acts of terrorism in countries across the world. It is a major funder and supporter of Hamas and Hezbollah as part of a ‘regional axis of resistance’ to Israel. The IRGC’s elite Quds Force also engages with Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip and West Bank, the Houthis in Yemen, and Shia militias in Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan. It has planned attacks in many countries, including Argentina, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Germany, Kenya, Turkey, and the USA.
“We shall fight them [our enemies] on the global level, not just in one spot. Our war is not a local war. We have plans to defeat the world powers.”
– IRGC Supreme Commander Hossein Salami
Within Iran, the IRGC brutally suppresses pro-democracy protests. After the 2009 election, its Basij militia attacked student dormitories, beating the students and ransacking their rooms. Human rights groups reported members of the militia appearing at demonstrations and attacking protesters, as well as beating up those suspected of having taken part. In recent days, the IRGC has played its part in violently suppressing protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, who was beaten to death in police custody for wearing an ‘improper’ hijab.
The IRGC Navy has the potential to choke off global trade in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial international waterway. It has previously carried out attacks on international vessels in this area, including British flagged vessels.
The IRGC is already designated as a terrorist organisation by the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain. Hundreds of coalition service personnel, as well as thousands of Iraqis, have been killed in Iraq by IRGC proxies.
The IRGC falls well within UK legislation to proscribe it a terrorist organisation under both the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Magnitsky Sanctions.
The US Department of Defence estimates that Iran sends Hezbollah more than $100 million each year.
The IRGC has 190,000 active personnel and 450,000 reserves.
As well as supporting terrorist groups abroad, Iran allows Al Qaeda operatives to live and operate in Iran, from which they move money and fighters to South Asia and Syria. Iran allowed several of the 9/11 hijackers to move through its territory on their way to Afghanistan for training.
