Islamic Revolutionary Guard Today

The conventional Iranian Army (known as the ‘Artesh’) defends Iranian borders and maintains internal order. It should be noted that the concept of foreign interference plays a significant part in the Iranian decision-making psyche. The IRGC was therefore established also to counteract any potential threats from the Iranian military that was seen as traditionally more loyal to the Shah. The Iranian military and the IRGC therefore operate separately with different focuses and operational roles. [i]  In reality, the IRGC, on which the Iranian regime relies uses more advanced weapons and enjoys a bigger budget than the conventional Iranian Army.[ii]

In the 2020 budget, the IRGC received $6.96 billion, while the larger conventional military received $2.73 billion. The difference in funding indicates the IRGC’s prominence as a political, military, ideological and economic actor.[iii]

The IRGC’s main role is in, but is by no means limited to, national security. IRGC influence also rivals the police and the judiciary in Iran. 

The IRGC’s doctrine merges firm loyalty to Iran’s clerical elite with profound paranoia about the outside world. In IRGC publications, Iran is portrayed as threatened by American and “Zionist” plots, which are said to be adept at exerting substantial influence within Iran. Allegations of foreign meddling in Iran provide the justification for terrorism abroad, fuelling the high-profile international conflicts that provide the basis for ever harsher crackdowns on internal dissent. The IRGC considers “resistance” to Israel and support for so-called resistance groups among its primary regional goals. Indeed, these have been Iranian foreign policy goals since the Islamic Revolution. IRGC propaganda refers to Israel as a conspiracy against the region backed by the United States and the United Kingdom. Through its support for Hezbollah, Hamas, and other terror groups, the IRGC leads what it calls a regional axis of resistance to “speed up the downfall” of Israel and “the liberation of al-Quds,” the Arabic name for Jerusalem. The IRGC provides military and strategic aid to its regional proxies.[iv]

Iran’s military strategy revolves around asymmetric warfare and prioritises proxy conflicts throughout the area, irregular naval tactics, a forceful ballistic missile program, and cyber warfare operations. The IRGC is the dominant player in all four of Iran’s strategic aims, while the conventional Army, the Artesh is built like a traditional conventional military and operates old and outdated tanks, ships, and aircraft. [v]

In addition, the IRGC controls Iran’s strategic missile and rocket forces, with its said operational emphasis on asymmetric warfare and non-traditional tactics and duties that challenge conventional armies. 

Notably, such activities include the control of smuggling, control of the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and other resistance operations.[vi] This is also where the IRGC in general has played a pivotal role in aiding the Iranian government and businesses to circumvent United States sanctions in international trade with smuggling operations that provide a significant additional revenue source.[vii]

Iran’s IRGC operations in the Persian Gulf are a matter of daily concern in the region and beyond. So much so, that in the event of any attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the IRGC would most likely assume control of Iran’s response.  This would be likely to involve malign activity in the waters of the Persian Gulf. [viii]

On April 8, 2019, President Trump announced that his administration would designate Iran's IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.  The measure, which officially took effect on April 15th 2019, expands on previous terrorism-related sanctions imposed on the IRGC and Iran.[ix]

The aim of the United States Government was to send a clear message to Tehran that its support for terrorism has serious consequences. The U.S. continued to increase financial pressure and raise the costs on the Iranian regime for its support of terrorist activity until it abandons its malign and outlaw behaviour.  In addition, the State Department charged that the IRGC “has been directly involved in terrorist plotting; its support for terrorism is foundational and institutional, and it has killed U.S. citizens.” The State Department's press release described the “Iranian regime” as “responsible for the deaths of at least 603 American service members in Iraq since 2003” and listed various terrorist activities dating back to 1996 which it attributed to the IRGC.[x]

This is why the IRGC must be designated a terrorist organization