Rt Hon James Cleverly

King Charles Street

London SW1A 2AH                                                                                                April 2023

 

https://eu.jotform.com/sign/230886682737067/invite/01gwt9a64sf1fdf7893ac21cf1

Dear Foreign Secretary,

PETITION: designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity.

 

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) is not a regular military organisation, and unlike the Iranian armed forces charged with the protection of Iran’s borders and sovereignty, the IRGC is charged with the protection of the theocratic dictatorship and the propagation of the revolution beyond Iran’s borders.

The IRGC, and its para-military forces, are directly responsible for the unlawful murder of many thousands of unarmed Iranian protestors who are demanding basic human rights and freedom. Over 70 minors under the age of 16 have been shot and killed. Many others have been beaten to death in the streets of Iran.

Tens of thousands in custody are systematically tortured, sexually assaulted, and raped. Many have been executed following sham trials.

On the international front, the IRGC is directly responsible for ship piracy, kidnapping, hostage-taking, assassinations, and bomb attacks. Many terrorist proxies have been created, trained, and funded by the IRGG and they pose a direct threat to Europe, Israel, and the UK.

Many British citizens in the UK have been directly threatened. The voice of freedom and free speech has been muffled as the IRGC’s direct threat against a media company forced its relocation from London. A list of the atrocities and breaches of international laws is documented and attached for your consideration.

As a British citizen and in the interest of Human Rights, free speech, and liberty as well as the UK’s safety and indeed for world peace, we request that H.M.Government considers the proscription of IRGC.

The UK needs to stand, once again, on the right side of history, and for the sake of humanity and decency, this is the right thing to do.

 

List of Crimes against humanity and breaches of Human Rights and International law conducted by the IRGC:

Crimes against humanity.

Execution of political prisoners in Iran.

Unlawful murder of unarmed civilians.

Torture, sexual assault and rape of political prisoners and opponents of the regime.

Mass slaughter of unarmed Syrian civilians.

 

Proxies.

The Islamic Republic has invested in multiple proxies in the near east and beyond.

These outfits are extremely loyal to the IRGC and the regime in Tehran and act as mercenaries for the regime if required. Many reports suggest that members from these proxies are now in Iran killing, torturing, and raping civilians and minors.

 

 

Global security has listed these proxies and estimated manpower6

AFGHANISTAN
15,000
Fatemiyoun Brigade
BAHRAIN
c100
Al-Ashtar Brigades (AAB)
IRAN
 
Followers of the Party of God / Ansar-i Hizbullah
IRAQ
 
 
20,000
Badr Corps
c100,000
Popular Mobilization Forces
10,000
Kata’ib Hezbollah / Saraya al-Difaa al-Shaabi
10,000
Asa’ib Ahl (al-Haq)
LEBANON
45,000
Hizballah
NIGERIA
c50,000
Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN)
PAKISTAN
1,000
Zainabiyoun Brigade
PALESTINE
1,000
Palestine Islamic Jihad (PIJ)
800
PFLP Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine
c500
PFLP - General Command (PFLP-GC)
25,000
HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement)
Harakat Al-Muqawama Al-Islamia
SAUDI ARABIA
c100
Saudi Hezbollah / Hezbollah al-Hejaz
SYRIA
100,000
Syrian National Defense Force
YEMEN
100,000
Houthi / Shabab al-Moumineen
WEST SAHARA
7,000
Frente Polisario
 

IRGC Known terror activities outside Iran 7,9.

 

France, July 1980.

Failed assassination attempt of former Iranian prime Minister.

 

USA, July 1980.

The assassination of a former Iranian diplomat in Maryland.

 

Lebanon, October 1983.

U.S military barracks targeted resulting in over 300 deaths.

 

Austria, July 1989.

The assassination of a regime opponent.

Switzerland, April 1990.

The assassination of a Human Rights activist and regime opponent.

France, August 1991.

The assassination of Iran’s former prime minister, Shapor Bakhtiar.

 

Germany, August 1992.

The assassination of an Iranian political dissident and artist.

 

Germany, September 1992.

The assassination of four Kurdish opponents of the regime.

 

Argentina, July 1994.

A bomb attack on the Argentine Israelite Mutual Association building in Buenos Aries killed 85 with many hundreds injured.

 

Kenya and Tanzania, 1998.

US embassy bomb attacks in Kenya and Tanzania resulted in over 200 fatalities. A federal court ruled that Iran was liable.

 

India, February 2012.

Terrorists belonging to a branch of Iran's IRGC were responsible for an attack on Israeli diplomats in New Delhi, resulting in injuries.

 

Thailand, February 2012.

The attempted assassination of Israeli diplomats in Bangkok.

 

Kenya, June 2012.

Failed plot to bomb US, UK and Israeli targets.

 

 

Bahrain, September 2015 and January 2016.

Security forces uncovered a bomb-making factory linked to the IRGC.

A terrorist cell linked to the IRGC was discovered and dismantled.

 

France, October 2018 and 2022.

A bomb plot against the Iranian opposition was foiled.  This would have been an attack with a potentially high death rate as tens of thousands had attended an anti-regime meeting.

Iranian opposition and activists have been threatened by the IRGC in Paris.

 

Denmark, October 2018.

A plot to assassinate anti-regime activists was foiled.

 

Albania, December 2018.

The Islamic Republic ambassador and ‘diplomats’ were expelled after plotting

terrorist attacks on Iranian opposition.

 

United States, 2021 and August 2022.

Failed kidnapping of an Iranian activist in New York and the failed assassination plot of former national security advisor John Bolton.

 

United Kingdom, January 2022 and 2023.

Ministry of Information reported threats to Iranian journalists and activists.

Iran International media forced to relocate from the UK.

 

France, December 2022.

Direct threats to Iranian opponents in France.

 

Foreign Involvement.

Direct involvement in the Syrian civil war.  Indirect involvement in Yemen. Sphere of influence in Iraq and supply of arms to Iraqi Islamists and Hamas. Supply of military advisors and ballistic missiles and suicide drones to Russia for its war effort in Ukraine.

Sea Piracy.

June 2019.  Four commercial ships were damaged near the coast of Fujairah. The ships included two Saudi Arabian registered oil tankers, a Norwegian and a UAE oil tanker.

 

June 2021. The oil tanker "Hankuk Chemy" was seized by IRGC Navy.

 

August 2021 IRGC Navy seized ‘’Asphalt Princess’’.

 

August 2021. IRGC attacked the Mercer Street oil tanker, resulting in the death of a British national.  British Foreign minister Dominic Raab commented, "We believe this attack was a deliberate, targeted, and a clear violation of international law by Iran".

 

May 2022 Two Greek tankers were seized as punitive action against Athens over the confiscation of Iranian oil by the United States off the Greek coast.  The Iranian ship was in breach of international sanctions.

 

July 2022. HMS Montrose seized Iranian boats smuggling Surface to air missiles in contravention of UN security council resolution 2216 (2015)

 

November 2022. IRGC launched a drone attack on the "Pacific Zireon" oil tanker.  The drone was HESA Shahed 136 self-destroying drone. These drones, as well as ballistic missiles, have been supplied to Russia and they have caused significant damage to Ukraine’s cities resulting in loss of life.

 

February 2023: Drone attack on the ‘’Campo Square’’ tanker.

 

 

Aviation.

January 2020. The IRGC shot down a civilian airliner from Ukraine after its departure from Tehran, with the loss of 176 civilians.

 

 

 

Close Ties.

Al-Qaeda: The Islamic Republic allegedly formed an alliance during the 1990s in which Hezbollah trained al-Qaeda operatives.

.

 

Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad:  IRGC provides Financial and military support with logistics and training. Hamas and Hezbollah are recognised as terrorist organisation8. In 2012, IRGC Commander, M.Jafari, admitted that the IRGC transferred ground to ground missiles to Hamas

 

Hostage Taking and Kidnapping

Many tourists, mainly Europeans and dual nationals have been arrested and charged with espionage or activities against the state. They are used as pawns against the West. There are reports that several British-Iranians have been detained in December 2022.

An Iranian journalist and dissident from Paris, Mr. Rouhalah Zam, was kidnapped by the IRGC whilst visiting Iraq. He was executed in Iran.

In 2022, political activist and a Swedish national, Mr. Habib Chaab, was kidnapped by the IRGC and taken to Iran. He is awaiting execution.

In 2023 a German citizen, Mr Jamshid Sharmahd, was kidnapped and taken to Iran from Dubai. He is awaiting execution.

 

Drug Cartels.

The IRGC is actively involved in the distribution of class-A drugs from Syria and Iran.

 

Free Press and Media.

2023: Iran International, based in London, closed and relocated to the USA following direct threat to life from the IRGC. Freedom of speech and journalism has been directly affected by the threats from the IRGC.

 

Summary.

The IRGC is responsible for terrorist activities, plotting global terrorist attacks, creating, funding, and training terrorist cells and organisations, hostage-taking, sea piracy as well as gross violations of Human Rights, including the unlawful murder of unarmed civilians and minors. It has the commitment to radicalise its recruits and to export the Islamic revolution beyond the borders of Iran as well as armed resistance to the state of Israel with the aim of destroying the state of Israel

 

The IRGC fully supports and funds Hezbollah of Lebanon, which has been proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the U.K.

 

In the very same year that the Western democracies were relieved that the Islamic Republic signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) , a sudden surge in IRGC activity was noted.

 

The IRGC controls the economy of the Islamic Republic and considers itself above the law and has no constitutional restrictions.

 

On the 15th of April, 2019, the United States officially designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organisation 3.

There is ample evidence to suggest and justify why the IRGC should be proscribed onto the list of terror organisations. Under the Terrorism Act 2000, the Home Secretary may consider proscribing the IRGC as this organisation has;

 

·         Committed and participated in acts of terrorism

·         Prepares for terrorism

·         Funds, promotes and encourages terrorism

·         Is otherwise concerned with terrorism

 

Proscribing the IRGC will send a clear message to Tehran that the activities of the IRGC will not be tolerated by the U.K. However, Proscription will not hinder diplomatic ties or future engagement with Tehran. The only hindrance will be the regime itself as they will threaten disengagement in a desperate bid to keep the IRGC activities in Europe and the UK alive. A democracy cannot be held to ransom.

As the vast majority of the economy, as well as most factories and industries of Iran, are controlled by the IRGC and the theocratic regime, with little or no benefit to the Iranian civilians, a robust sanction targeting the economy must also be considered.

Proscribing the IRGC combined with a robust economic sanction targeting the IRGC and the regime in Tehran will ensure that the Iranian people will be able to determine their own fate and establish an Iran based on democracy, equality, and secularism.

Only then there will be a guarantee of a nuclear-free Iran. The JCPoA or any other treaty will be an appeasement to a theocratic dictatorship that has a resume of execution, murder, torture, rape assassination, and terror activities.

 

Regardless of a revived JCPoA or a ‘step-by-step’, the Islamic Republic has amassed a Uranium stockpile that exceeds the JCPoA limits by at least eighteen times and it has continued to produce high enriched Uranium. This is, as stated by Dame Woodward ‘unprecedented for a state without a nuclear weapons programme’.

 

A nuclear-armed Islamic Republic will be an irreversible threat to world peace and stability. This will lead to nuclear proliferation in a region that is volatile.

 

1. United States Department of State.

2.Aryan, H. Irans Basij Force. The Mainstay of Domestic Security. 2009.

3 U.S. officially designates Iran's Revolutionary Guards a terrorist group.  Reuters 2019.

4. Al-Monitor, 2017.

5. Centre for Strategic and International Studies.

6. Global Security

7. Wikipedia IRGC

8. The Economist. 2014-03-29

9. Tony Blair Institute for Global Change