In a brazen move to stir the pot towards more conflict (and even war) with Iran, Trump has designated Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).

> Today, I am formally announcing my Administration’s plan to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), including its Qods Force, as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act.  This unprecedented step, led by the Department of State, recognizes the reality that Iran is not only a State Sponsor of Terrorism, but that the IRGC actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft.  The IRGC is the Iranian government’s primary means of directing and implementing its global terrorist campaign.

> This designation will be the first time that the United States has ever named a part of another government as a FTO.  It underscores the fact that Iran’s actions are fundamentally different from those of other governments.  This action will significantly expand the scope and scale of our maximum pressure on the Iranian regime.  It makes crystal clear the risks of conducting business with, or providing support to, the IRGC.  If you are doing business with the IRGC, you will be bankrolling terrorism.

> This action sends a clear message to Tehran that its support for terrorism has serious consequences.  We will continue 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 behavior.

<center><img src="https://i.imgur.com/W26Jp41.jpg" /><br/><em><sub><a href="https://twitter.com/soniakatimota/status/937267661041487872">Source</a></sub></em></center>

Wendy Sherman, former Under-Secretary of State and lead Iran negotiator, is worried about what this implies:

> *"One might even suggest, since it’s hard to see why this is in our interest, if the president isn’t looking for a basis for a conflict. The IRGC is already fully sanctioned and this escalation absolutely endangers our troops in the region."*

Colonel Pat Lang also suggests a motive to provoke war:

> *"The AUMF on terrorism has been used far and wide as a hunting license to attack any armed group that could even distantly be thought a terrorist enemy. The anti-terrorism AUMF makes such attacks legal under US law."*

> The official designation as "terrorist" of the IRGC which is a 125000 man army with its own navy and air force makes it legal for the US Armed Forces to attack the IRGC and its people wherever they are found and under any circumstances that may occur. It is a declaration of war.

> The neocon nitwits (Pompeo, Bolton, Hannah, etc.) may think that Iran's reaction to this declaration of war will be submission to their will but IMO that is very unlikely. IMO it is more likely that the IRGC will absorb the new reality and will prepare for war with the US.

The AUMF is the [Authorization for Use of Military Force](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorization_for_Use_of_Military_Force_Against_Terrorists), and is a law passed post-9/11 that give surprising powers to the president:

> to use all "necessary and appropriate force" against those whom he determined "planned, authorized, committed or aided" the September 11th attacks, or who harbored said persons or groups.

Tied to the 9/11 attacks is anything related to al Qaeda. In October 2017, Trump tied Iran to al Qaeda by accusing Iran of having supported al Qaeda:

<blockquote>

Iranian proxies provided training to operatives who were later involved in al Qaeda’s bombing of the American embassies in Kenya, Tanzania, and two years later, killing 224 people, and wounding more than 4,000 others.

The regime harbored high-level terrorists in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, including Osama bin Laden’s son. In Iraq and Afghanistan, groups supported by Iran have killed hundreds of American military personnel.

</blockquote>

But Iran had nothing to do with Kenya's bombing. Some al Qaeda families to flee to Iran after the U.S. bombs and invaded Afghanistan. In Iran, they were placed under house arrest as hostages to prevent al Qaeda operations against Iran.

Predictably, after the U.S. declared Iran's army to be terrorists, Iran's response was to do the same to the U.S. A bill has been introduced to place U.S. Central Command on a terrorist blacklist, right alongside Daesh, the Islamic State (ISIS).

Iran has seen this coming. They know there are pro-Israel Zionist forces out there, like neocons, who seek to engulf the U.S. in more wars on behalf of promoting Israeli dominance in the Middle East. Mohammed Javad Zarif said on twitter:

> "#NetanyahuFirsters who have long agitated for FTO (Foreign Terrorist Organisation) of the IRGC fully understand its consequences for US forces in the region. In fact, they seek to drag the US into a quagmire on his behalf. @realDonaldTrump should know better than to be conned into another US disaster."

They had already said if the U.S. goes along with designating Iran as an FTO, they would do the same for the U.S. This is a clear move to escalate conflict in an already war torn Middle East. The next war seems to be brewing, and the neocons will get their wet dream realized if the U.S. goes to war with Iran. But, expect Russia to come to the aid of its ally against the U.S. global bully. I hope none of this happens, because it's just more madness and chaos for humanity.

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References:
- [Iran Designates US Military As Terrorist Organization](https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2019-04-08/iran-designates-us-military-terrorist-organization)
- [Why Is Trump Designating Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps As Foreign Terrorist Organization?](https://www.moonofalabama.org/2019/04/trump-crazies-designate-irans-revolutionary-guard-corps-as-terrorists-.html)

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