SRINAGAR: Colombia has designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group, drawing support from the United States, which said it would work with Bogotá to prevent Iranian operatives, recruiters, financiers and proxies from operating.
The Colombian government announced the designation on September 24, saying the IRGC represented a serious threat to international peace and security. Bogotá said the organisation represses people inside Iran and conducts covert operations beyond the country’s borders.
Following the designation, Colombia said it would strengthen security and control measures to prevent people associated with the IRGC from entering its territory.
The United States welcomed Colombia’s decision and said it would continue working with partners such as Colombia to hold the Iranian government accountable.
In its statement, Washington accused Iran of financing and directing terrorist attacks and activities globally through the IRGC-Qods Force and its proxies. Those are US government allegations.
The IRGC is Iran’s elite military organisation and includes the Qods Force, which is responsible for its external operations. The United States has already designated the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organization.
Colombia’s move came alongside its decision to formally sever diplomatic relations with Iran from September 19. Bogotá said the diplomatic break was linked to its concerns over alleged Iranian links with international terrorist and narcoterrorist groups, among other issues. Consular relations with Iran were not suspended.
Iran has rejected Colombia’s allegations, describing them as unfounded and saying the decision to sever diplomatic ties ran contrary to the interests of both countries..
