Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Monday said the country would give “firm and crushing” response if U.S. blacklists its Islamic Revolution Guards Corps as a terror group. Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qasemi said in Tehran during a news conference that “I hope the U.S. ruling body would not make that mistake. “But if it does so, then Iran’s response will be firm, decisive and crushing and the U.S. should accept the consequences.” Qasemi said he also hoped the wise people among the U.S. statesmen would take steps to prevent the sanctions.

On Sunday, the IRGC commander also noted that if Washington decides to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, the IRGC will, in turn, treat the U.S. Army around the world, particularly in the Middle East, as the forces of the Islamic State militants. The U.S. administration has imposed several rounds of sanctions against Iran over the past months claiming that Iran has not observed the spirit of the nuclear deal Oswald two years ago.

Washington says that Iran’s missile programme, mainly conducted by the IRGC, is threatening the regional and international peace. Iran denies the allegations stressing that its missile programme is only for deterrent purposes.

NAN