IRAN condemned today Canada’s recent announcement that it is designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc announced the decision, which he called a “significant tool in fighting global terrorism,” on Wednesday.

He urged all Canadian citizens to leave Iran.

The move will mean that thousands of senior Iranian officials will be barred from entering Canada.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani said that the classification would “have no impact” and that Tehran “reserves the right to respond” to Canada’s decision.

Mr Kanaani called the move “provocative and irresponsible.”

Current and former senior Iranian government officials in Canada may also now be investigated and removed following the decision.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in 2022 that he feared a terrorism designation would unfairly target Iranians in Canada who opposed the regime and fled, but had to serve in the Revolutionary Guard in the past.

The move follows the United States’ 2019 labelling of the forces as a terrorist organisation.