Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said on Tuesday the United State made “a vicious move” while designating Iranian revolutionary guards as a foreign terror outfit, a state-run TV reported.
US President Donald Trump has designated IRGC as a foreign terror outfit on Monday, that has prompted tensions in the Middle East.
According to Reuters news reports, while addressing a group of IRGC, Khamenei stated: “They wish to plot against our Sepah (the Guards) … it is in the frontline of confronting enemies of our (1979 Islamic) revolution and has always defended the country … America has failed to block our advancements.”
He added, “In spite of all the pressure in the past 40 years, Americans have failed to do a damn thing and their vicious move will bear no fruit.”
Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has also defended his IRGC fighters as protectors of Iran, stating the US “holds a grudge” against the IRGC who have “sacrificed their lives to protect our people, our revolution”.
He said, “We have been patient and will continue to be patient … but our patience has a limit … Fulfil your commitments and respect your pledges.”
The US has earlier blacklisted some of the entities and individuals affiliated to the IRGC, but not the whole IRGC organization.
In fact, Tehran, in a retaliatory move, labelled the US as a sponsor of terror and designated US CENTCOM as a terror organization.
“This mistake will unite Iranians and the Guards will grow more popular in Iran and in the region … America has used terrorists as a tool in the region while the Guards have fought against them from Iraq to Syria,” Rouhani said.