Homeland Security

US Considering Terrorist Label for Iran's Revolutionary Guards

By VOA News
15 August 2007

The Bush administration is reported to be ready to declare Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps a "specially designated global terrorist" organization.

If the move goes forward, it would be the first time the United States has added an armed forces unit of any sovereign government to its list of terrorist groups. The designation allows the U.S. to freeze any assets the group, its members, or subsidiaries may have in the U.S.

According to the reports published late Tuesday on the web sites of the Washington Post and the New York Times, the move reflects escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear activities and U.S. allegations of Iranian support for insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Tehran denies all U.S. allegations and says its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, senior administration officials say a final decision has not yet been made, and that there still is an internal debate whether to target the entire Iranian corps or only its al-Quds force wing.

In recent weeks, U.S. officials have complained of growing involvement of the al-Quds force in providing support for insurgents.

Iran has been on the U.S. State department's list of state sponsors of terrorism since May 1984.

Some information for this report was provided by AP .