A handout picture released on September 18, 2016 by the official website of the Centre for Preserving and Publishing the Works of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him (C) addressing the commanders of Revolutionary Guards during a meeting in Tehran. / AFP PHOTO / KHAMENEI.IR / HO
ANALYSIS: Why Iran’s Revolutionary Guards deserve to be blacklisted
The discussion in the White House to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization remains very much alive. The US Congress has also witnessed many different plans weighed in this regard. Iran and its lobbies, on the other hand, terrified of the consequences, have taken to the media to depict an image of the US suffering from such a move.
A handout picture released on September 18, 2016 by the official website of the Centre for Preserving and Publishing the Works of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shows him (C) addressing the commanders of Revolutionary Guards during a meeting in Tehran. / AFP PHOTO / KHAMENEI.IR / HO
Consequences for Iran
The political, economic, social and military consequences of the IRGC’s terrorist designation are quite significant, to say the least. There are two paths to realize such an objective. President Donald Trump can issue an executive order, which can be cancelled through an executive order. Congress can also pass a bill to engrave such a decision law of the land in America.
With a new administration in Washington, both paths are quite active and probable, especially through Congress that is already evaluating a variety of bills in this regard.
If the IRGC is blacklisted, this very important entity for the Iranian regime will be placed under the following restrictions according to US laws:
– All IRGC assets in the US will be subject to confiscation
– No US citizen of company, or sister company, are authorized to engage in goods or service transactions with the IRGC
– US banks are banned from financial transactions with the IRGC
– The US can confiscate or inspect ships and boats belonging to the IRGC in international waters
Political consequences
The IRGC is considered the main pillar of the mullahs’ regime, in charge of pursuing Tehran’s policy of domestic crackdown and exporting terrorism abroad. Blacklisting the IRGC would inflict a major blow to the Iranian regime in its entirety. This will weaken not only Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei but the regime as a whole, as the IRGC is the force ensuring the security of mullahs’ apparatus in its entirety.
Economic damages
The IRGC is a large economic powerhouse. There are no exact statistics of the budget or revenue the IRGC enjoys through its economic activities. There is no doubt, however, that the IRGC, along with its long slate of entities and affiliated organizations, has an in-depth presence in all aspects of Iran’s life. This includes the oil and gas industry, communications, major construction projects, transportation, power projects and imports.
Experts estimate the IRGC is in control of around 20 to 40 percent of Iran’s economy. The IRGC runs 812 companies registered inside the country and abroad, all literally under the sultanate of this military empire. Any foreign individual or company intending to invest in Iran must enter cooperation with at least one of the 812 above mentioned companies.
Currently, the IRGC is involved in 1,700 government contracts, while there are claims of the number ranging at around 2,000. These contracts have transformed the IRGC into the largest economic force not only in Iran, but across the Middle East. Some of these contracts are valued into the billions. Reuters reported the IRGC empire has an annual sale of $10 to $12 billion.
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