Canada has designated Iran's Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization.

Canada has listed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization after years of pressure from opposition lawmakers and some members of the Iranian diaspora.

Announcing the decision on Wednesday, Public Safety Minister Dominique LeBlanc called it “an important weapon in the fight against global terrorism”.

The move would mean thousands of senior Iranian government officials, including senior IRGC officials, would be barred from entering Canada.

According to Iran's Fars news agency, a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry condemned the move, calling it an “unwise and unconventional” step.

The IRGC is a major military, political and economic force in Iran, with close ties to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

It is estimated that there are more than 190,000 active personnel with its own ground forces, navy and air force that oversee Iran's strategic arsenal.

According to the government, the IRGC exerts influence elsewhere in the Middle East by providing money, weapons, technology, training and advice to allied governments and armed groups through its shadowy overseas operations arm, the Quds (Jerusalem) Force.

The Quds Force was already listed as a terrorist group by Canada, but Wednesday's announcement extends that designation to the entire IRGC.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. LeBlanc said the action “sends a strong message that Canada will use all the tools at its disposal to combat the IRGC's terrorist organization”.

“The Iranian regime has shown a continued disregard for human rights inside and outside Iran, as well as a willingness to destabilize the system based on international law,” he said.

Following this designation, current and former senior Iranian government officials already in Canada can now be investigated and removed.

Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie warned that Canadians in Iran could be at risk of arbitrary detention following the announcement.

“My message is clear: For those who are currently in Iran, it is time to return home,” he said.

“And those who are planning to go to Iran, don't go.”

In response, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasir Kanani called Canada's move “an unwise and unconventional politically motivated move.”

“Canada's action will have no impact on the legitimate and deterrent power of the Revolutionary Guards,” he said.

The Canadian government, led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, had previously refused to give the IRGC terrorist status despite pressure from some expatriate members – including families of those who arrived in January 2020. were killed after flight PS752 was shot down by RGC. Tehran.

All 175 passengers on board were killed, including 55 Canadian citizens and 30 Canadian permanent residents.

Tehran claimed that the missile attack on the plane was a mistake.

Mr. Trudeau previously said in 2022 that he feared the terrorism designation would unfairly target Iranians in Canada who have defied the government and fled, but he had previously served on the IRGC. Have to give.

Asked why now by reporters, Mr LeBlanc said the decision to designate a group as a terrorist organization was a “deliberate act” made with advice from the security services and foreign policy considerations. .

“That's a threshold that must be met under the Criminal Code of Canada,” he said.

The move makes Canada the second country in North America to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, after the United States, which did so in 2019.

The UK has previously signaled its intention to make a similar move as recently as 2023, but has yet to do so.