Washington, D.C.
The Revolutionary Guards, a 125,000-strong, elite unit of the Iranian army, will soon be declared a terrorist organization, U.S. officials said this week. The U.S. says the Revolutionary Guards have smuggled roadside bombs and other weapons to the Taliban in Afghanistan and to insurgent elements in Iraq. The terrorist designation would mark the first time the U.S. has identified the armed forces of a sovereign nation as terrorists. The assets of such groups are subject to seizure by the U.S., which also may disrupt their activities, by military force if necessary. The U.S. will likely use the terrorist designation to press the U.N. for tightened sanctions against Tehran.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Trump hits Africa, Middle East with new travel banSpeed Read The travel ban bars visitors from 12 countries and restricts entry from seven
-
'The bilateral relationship has eroded'Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
June 5 editorial cartoonsCartoons Thursday's political cartoons include a presidential get-out-of-jail-free card, masked ICE agents, and the Tooth Fairy's message for Senator Joni Ernst
