(MENAFN- Pajhwok Afghan News) (Pajhwok): Iran's most powerful security institution has come under mounting pressure from American President Donald Trump.
In a wide-ranging White House speech on Friday, as reported by major media outlets, the US leader suggested targeting Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Manned by up to 150,000 active personnel, the corps has land, sea and air defence capabilities, including domestic paramilitary forces and a ballistic missile arsenal.
The Treasury Department designated IRGC's Quds Force as a terrorist organisation in 2007. The force is charged with operations.
According to CNN, Trump warned: "As I have said many times, the Iran deal was one of the worst and most one-sided transactions the US has ever entered into."
While rolling out his new strategy toward Iran, the president adopted a more aggressive stance on the nuclear deal and the Iranian ballistic missiles.
He ordered the Treasury Department to slap more sanctions on the Revolutionary Guard for aiding terrorism -- branded a primary tool in remaking Iran into a rogue state.
In a document, the White House said: 'It is hard to find a conflict or a suffering people in the Middle East that the IRGC's tentacles do not touch.'
It added: 'The IRGC threatens all nations and the global economy, For all of these reasons, we want to work with our partners to constrain this dangerous organisation.'
Trump's strategy could trigger a chain of unpredictable consequences that could derail the nuclear deal and eventually raise the risk of war.
Although the International Atomic Energy Agency, America's European allies and even his own administration say Iran is complying with the 2015 accord, Trump alled multiple violations of the agreement by Tehran.
Also on Friday, the Treasury Department said it would designate IRGC for new sanctions over its support for terrorist outfits throughout the Middle East.
Earlier in the week, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif had warned: 'If US officials commit this strategic mistake (targeting the corps), Iran will surely reciprocate.'
Monitor/mud
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