The Trump administration is preparing to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guard a 'foreign terrorist organization,' an unprecedented move against a national armed force that could have widespread implications.
Iranian Revolutionary Guard members arrive for a ceremony celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution, at the Azadi, or Freedom, Square, in Tehran on Feb. 11.
Two U.S. officials and a congressional aide confirmed the planned move. They were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Iran's foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, seemed to anticipate the designation, saying in a tweet Sunday aimed at President Trump that Trump"should know better than to be conned into another US disaster."
In Lebanon, the designation could further restrict with whom U.S. officials can interact. The guard has close ties to Hezbollah, which is part of the Lebanese government. Hezbollah is already designated a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. Its presence in Lebanon's parliament and executive branch have forced the U.S. to avoid any contact with Hezbollah members even as the U.S. continues to provide assistance to and works with the Lebanese army.
Aside from Iraq -- where some 5,200 American troops are stationed, and Syria, where some 2,000 U.S. troops remain -- the U.S. 5th Fleet, which operates in the Persian Gulf from its base in Bahrain, and the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, are potentially at risk. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and national security advisor John Bolton have taken up the call and have in recent months spoken stridently about Iran and its"malign activities" in the region.
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