Iran to Reinforce Defensive Capacity Against US Long-Term Hostility

The head of the Iranian delegation to the Inter-Parliamentary Union commented in an interview to Sputnik on the recent decisions by US President Donald Trump to impose sanctions against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and not to certify Iran's compliance with the nuclear deal.

In a wide-ranging White House speech on Friday, as reported by major media outlets, the USA leader suggested targeting Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

"If the U.S. fails agreements on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on the Iranian nuclear program, nothing will remain from the deal", Larijani said. Trump's threats against Iran will damage America.

The IRGC is Iran's most powerful security entity and wields control over large swathes of Iran's economy as well as considerable influence within its political system.

The Treasury Department designated IRGC's Quds Force as a terrorist organisation in 2007.

While rolling out his new strategy toward Iran, the president adopted a more aggressive stance on the nuclear deal and the Iranian ballistic missiles.

"The IRGC is the most powerful anti-terror organization and is at the forefront of fighting terrorism", he was quoted as saying.

Trump's efforts to blacklist the IRGC come as the advisors of the Iranian elite force are now assisting the Iraqi and Syrian forces in their anti-terrorism campaign against ISIL Takfiri militants and other terrorist groups in both countries. "Trump will eventually discover this; as every predecessor did", Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. "Moreover, Iran's law has specified the framework of the IRGC's activities based on which the Corps does its work", said the general.

According to a Farsi report by Alef news website, the top general noted the IRGC is an official institution with 40 years of experience in the Islamic Republic of Iran's establishment.