**Rubio Urges US Diplomats to Advocate for Blacklisting of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards and Hezbollah**
In Short:
Senator Marco Rubio has called on US diplomats to persuade allies to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations.
Details
Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) has urged US diplomats to advocate for the designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and Hezbollah as terrorist organizations by American allies. In a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Rubio argued that such a move would help counter Iran’s malign activities and protect US interests.
Rubio’s letter, dated March 21, 2023, comes as the Biden administration seeks to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which the senator opposes. Rubio contends that the IRGC and Hezbollah, both key components of Iran’s regional strategy, should be held accountable for their destabilizing actions.
The senator noted that the European Union has already designated the IRGC’s Quds Force, the elite branch responsible for foreign operations, as a terrorist organization. However, he believes that designating the entire IRGC, which controls a vast array of Iran’s economic and military interests, would send a stronger message.
Rubio also highlighted Hezbollah’s role as a terrorist proxy for Iran, responsible for numerous attacks against US and Israeli targets. He urged the State Department to press allies to follow the US’s lead in designating Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organization, rather than just its military wing.
The senator argued that these designations would not only limit the groups’ ability to raise funds and recruit members but also demonstrate US commitment to countering Iran’s malign influence. He added that such actions would help protect American interests and those of US allies in the Middle East.
In response to Rubio’s letter, a State Department spokesperson stated that the US continues to work closely with international partners to address the threats posed by the IRGC and Hezbollah. The spokesperson did not comment on whether the department would heed Rubio’s call to advocate for the designations.
Source: U.S. News & World Report
