U.S. to label Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization - Haaretz

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Last update - 09:50 15/08/2007

U.S. to label Iran's Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization

By The Associated Press

The United States is moving toward blacklisting Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, subjecting at least part of the entity to financial sanctions in a new move against the Islamic republic, a U.S. official said Tuesday.

A decision has been made in principle to name elements of the corps a
specially designated global terrorist group, but internal discussions continue over whether it should cover the entire unit or only its main military wing, the Al-Quds force, the official said.

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The official spoke on condition of anonymity because a decision, which must be approved by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, has not yet been made. It was not immediately clear when the designation, first disclosed by The Washington Post, would be made public.

The Post, in a report published on its Web site Tuesday night, said the
administration wants to announce the sanctions before the UN General
Assembly meets next month in New York. The official who spoke to The
Associated Press said the timing had not been decided and could say only that it's going to happen at some point.

The specially designated global terrorist designation was created by President George W. Bush in 2001 as part of larger post-Sept. 11 measures to cut off funding for extremists.

The sanctions cut designees off from the U.S. financial system and freeze any assets that it, its members or subsidiaries may have in U.S. jurisdictions.

There was no indication on Tuesday as to how much money might be involved, but the designation also allows U.S. financial regulators to move against businesses that have dealings with the Revolutionary Guards.

The designation has been used frequently. It was last applied on Monday
against Fatah al-Islam, an Al-Qaeda-inspired militant group accused of links to Syria, that has been involved in bloody fighting with the Lebanese army at a refugee camp in northern Lebanon.

But a move against the Revolutionary Guards would be significant as it is
believed to be the first time a foreign government or quasi-government agency will be so designated.

The Guard, which operates outside Iran's conventional army with its own air, naval and land wings, is known to have extensive business interests and investments in Iran, but the extent of its holdings outside the country is not clear.

U.S. officials have in recent weeks stepped up complaints against the corps, particularly the al-Quds force, which they accuse of supporting insurgents in Iraq as well as the Taliban in Afghanistan. It is also blamed for supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon.

At the same time, the United States has grown increasingly concerned at Iran's refusal to comply with international demands for it to come clean on its nuclear program, which Washington alleges is a cover for an atomic weapons program.

Iran has repeatedly denied all of the U.S. charges to growing irritation in Washington.

Yet, the preliminary decision to blacklist the Revolutionary Guards also comes as the United States and Iran have begun a tentative, if yet unsuccessful, engagement on Iraqi security issues.

The U.S. ambassador in Baghdad, Ryan Crocker, has met twice with his Iranian counterpart in recent months for landmark talks at which the two sides agreed to continue discussions although no progress has been discerned by U.S. officials.

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1.	AN ADMIRATION TO THE REV.GUARD	10:21	\|	indrajaya	15/08/07

2.	of course indy,you admire all terrorist,what else is new?	15:03	\|	terrornator	15/08/07

3.	Worthless "political theatre"	15:59	\|	spyguy	15/08/07

4.	And who in their right mind	16:22	\|	Mark Lincoln	15/08/07

5.	Should put some pressure on the Security Council	16:25	\|	Lynn	15/08/07

6.	Name Calling Replaces Action	16:32	\|	Tony Anthony	15/08/07

7.	The IDF is a terrorist org, then.	16:43	\|	Paul	15/08/07

8.	Such double standards	17:32	\|	Stephen Murray	15/08/07

9.	Bush//	18:02	\|	Joe	15/08/07

10.	to Paul, lucky #7	18:08	\|	Mark	15/08/07

11.	24 Years Late - 2nd Attempt	18:23	\|	Chick	15/08/07

12.	Chick # 9 is Correct	19:45	\|	Solon	15/08/07

13.	#9 Mark	21:01	\|	Paul	15/08/07

14.	#9 Mark	21:02	\|	Paul	15/08/07

15.	Solon, EXACTLY HOW would US/Israel	22:34	\|	spyguy	15/08/07

16.	Paul, please read my post again.	07:29	\|	Mark	16/08/07

17.	US should do the same with Israeli organizations	10:28	\|	John	16/08/07

18.	To Mark	10:31	\|	John	16/08/07

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