Iran Raps Saudi, Bahraini Support for US Blacklisting of IRGC

In a statement on Wednesday, Bahram Qassemi strongly condemned the Saudi and Bahraini support for the US move against the IRGC, saying that such amateurish and unwise stances contravene the principles of non-interference and respect for the sovereignty of other states.

Decrying the Saudi and Bahraini backing for Washington’s decision as a desperate and passive admiration of the US president’s anti-Iranian measures, the spokesman said such stances adopted by Riyadh and Manama reveal their short-sighted policies, lack of a proper understanding of the realities in the region, and ignorance of the consequences of the US adventurism and strategic mistakes that damage regional stability and security.

“A number of countries in the region have gotten used to blind obedience to their trans-regional masters. These countries are themselves the chief promoters of terrorist teachings and ideologies in the region and world, and have spared no effort and opportunity to support terrorist groups in recent decades,” Qassemi added.

The spokesperson underlined that Saudi Arabia and Bahrain are in no position to adopt stances against Iran by acting deceitfully, adding that such worthless stances could not divert the world’s public opinion from their role in sponsoring terrorism.

US President Donald Trump announced on Monday that Washington is designating the IRGC a foreign “terrorist organization”, marking the first time the US has formally labelled another country's military a terrorist group.

Responding to the move, Iran's Supreme National Security Council immediately declared the US as a state sponsor of terrorism and US forces in the region terrorists.

The SNSC said it has put CENTCOM on its terror list as a “reciprocal measure” against the US “illegal and unwise” move.