Commons Sense

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Iran’s Regional Activities Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 2021-03-02

2021-03-02

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Questions & Answers

Q1 Direct Answer
Michael Fabricant
▸ Context
The MP is concerned about the impact of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' involvement in various regions and its designation as a terrorist organisation.
What recent assessment has been made of the role of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in Iran's regional activities; and if he will make a statement.
James Cleverly
We have long condemned Iran's regional destabilising activity, including its political, financial and military support to militant and proscribed groups including Hezbollah in Lebanon and Syria, militias in Iraq and the Houthis in Yemen. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is, in its entirety, subject to the UK's autonomous sanctions. On 18 February, the Foreign Secretary, alongside his E3 and US counterparts, committed in a statement to working with regional parties to address their security concerns.
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Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Michael Fabricant
▸ Context
The MP is concerned about the lack of designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation by the UK, in light of its activities beyond the Middle East and its classification by other countries.
As my hon. Friend the Minister will know, it is not just activity in the middle east that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is responsible for; it is not just with Hezbollah. There have been incidents in France and other parts of Europe, and it has caused the United States to ban the Revolutionary Guard and make it a terror organisation. When will the United Kingdom do the same and designate it as a terrorist organisation?
James Cleverly
We keep the list of proscribed organisations under review. As my hon. Friend knows, we do not routinely comment on whether organisations or individuals are under consideration for proscription. As I say, the IRGC is, in its entirety, subject to our autonomous sanctions regime. The UK, along with our European partners, wholeheartedly condemned the bomb plots in 2018 and 2019, including the one in Paris to which my hon. Friend referred.
▸ Assessment & feedback
The specific timing for the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organisation was not addressed.
We Do Not Routinely Comment On Whether Organisations Or Individuals Are Under Consideration For Proscription.
Response accuracy