Trump has included the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in the list of terrorist groups

The United States has included the Iranian elite military corps, the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, on the list of foreign "terrorist" organizations.

Donald Trump said it was the first time that an organization "part of a foreign government" was designated in this way, claiming that this measure would increase "pressure" against Tehran, a sworn foe. from Washington.

The president pointed out that this "unprecedented" designation recognizes the reality of the fact that Iran is not only a state sponsoring terrorism, but also the IRGC (guards acronym). actively participates, finances and promotes terrorism as a tool of politics ".

The group of guards of the Islamic Revolution was formed in Iran after the 1979 revolution with the mission to defend the mullahs' regimeunlike more traditional military units that protect borders and accumulate powerful power, even with important economic interests.

The Qods Force, named after the Arabic word for Jerusalem, is the most important unit of the group. She is responsible for supporting forces allied with Iran in the region, including Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Lebanon's Hezbollah.

S addressing reporters after Trump's announcement, the head of US diplomacy, Mike Pompeo, warned all foreign banks to have links with the guardians of the Islamic revolution. "Companies and banks around the world now have a clear duty to ensure that the companies with which they do financial transactions are in no way related to the RMF," said the state secretary.

The Trump administration has already imposed economic sanctions on Iran after giving up last year an international agreement reached in 2015 aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

A senior Trump government official said the new measure would criminalize contact with the Guardians and allow US prosecutors to "lodge a complaint against those who provide material support" to the group. "The IRGC is closely linked to the Iranian economy (…) The safest way is to stop doing business with the IRGC.If you do business with the IRGC, you run the risk of financing terrorism. "said a US official.

A nod to Israel

The designation, by which Washington is trying to undermine Iran's influence, comes on the eve of Israeli elections, where Trump's close ally, Benjamin Netanyahu, who has ruled the country for over 13 years, is yearning for a fifth. rival mandate, General Benny Gantz, a beginner in politics.

Trump, who claims to be the most pro-Israel American president, recently recognized Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights, a strategic area that Israel seized from Syria in 1967 and annexed in 1981 without international support.

Earlier, Trump had made the historic decision to transfer the United States Embbady from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the disputed holy city. In this light, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Washington's decision: "Thank you to my dear friend, President of the United States Donald Trump, for having decided to place the Iranian Revolutionary Guards on the list of terrorist organizations, "he wrote. Twitter