Trump's decisions on Golan, IRGC aim to serve Israel interests: Iran FM

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says US recognition of the occupied Syrian Golan Heights as part of Israel and its designation of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist" organization show that Washington’s policies are based on serving Israel’s interests.

Zarif, who is in Damascus on an official day-long visit, told IRIB on Tuesday that US President Donald Trump's decisions about Golan and Iran's IRGC indicated his "desperate reaction" to the latest achievements made by the Syrian people and popular defense groups in the campaign against US-backed terrorists.

The United States on Monday officially registered the IRGC as a "foreign terrorist organization," according to a notice published on the website of the US Federal Register.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in his notice that based upon a review of the Administrative Record assembled in this matter, and in consultation with the Attorney General and the Secretary of the Treasury, “I conclude that there is a sufficient factual basis to find that the relevant circumstances described in section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as amended (hereinafter “INA”) (8 U.S.C. 1189), exist with respect to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard[s] Corps, also known as [the] IRGC.”

US President Trump said in a statement on April 8 that the Iranian elite forces' designation "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."

Shortly after Trump's statement, Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) slammed the US government as "supporter of terrorism," designating American forces in West Asia, known as the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), as a "terrorist organization."

PressTV-Iran puts US forces in West Asia on its terror blacklist

Iran designates US government a supporter of terrorism and American forces in West Asia a terrorist organization.

In a statement, the SNSC condemned the "illegal and dangerous" move by the White House against the IRGC and said, "The Islamic Republic of Iran regards this baseless move as a major threat to regional and international peace and security and a blatant violation of the compelling rules of international law and the United Nations Charter."

Read more:

• Iranian parliament committee passes motion to counter US's IRGC blacklisting
• America's move against IRGC rooted in rancor: Leader
• Trump's recognition of Golan violates international law: Iran's Parliament speaker
• Russia's Putin: US recognition of Israel's Golan sovereignty illegal
• Trump’s move on Golan will lead to war with Israel: Experts

On the issue of the occupied Golan heights, Trump said in March that it was time to back what he described as the Israeli regime's "sovereignty" over Golan, a Syrian territory that has been under Israeli occupation since the 1967 Six-Day War.

PressTV-Trump: Time to recognize 'Israeli sovereignty' over Golan

US President Donald Trump says it was time to back "Israeli sovereignty" over the Golan Heights, a Syrian territory under occupation since 1967.

"After 52 years it is time for the United States to fully recognize Israel’s Sovereignty over the Golan Heights, which is of critical strategic and security importance to the State of Israel and Regional Stability!" the US president wrote on Twitter.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Zarif said, "Over the past weeks, our region has witnessed important developments which point to two facts: the consecutive US defeats and the White House's measures to serve the Zionist regime's interests."

The top Iranian diplomat emphasized that Trump's moves against the IRGC and Golan were an "election gift" to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

He said developed countries should boost convergence and urge everyone to observe international law and counter Washington's "law of jungle."

Zarif noted that he would hold talks with Syrian officials about ways to counter the United States' "illegal" moves against the IRGC and Golan.

Iran, Syria FMs discuss mutual, international issues

The Iranian foreign minister and his Syrian counterpart Walid al-Muallem discussed the latest mutual, regional and international developments.

Zarif said resistance of the Syrian government and nation against terrorism has rescued the Middle East from a big danger.

He stressed that all terrorists must leave Syria and the country's national sovereignty and territorial integrity must be respected.

Muallem, for his part, said positive cooperation between Tehran and Damascus helped both sides thwart plots and called for further expansion of relations.

Read more:

• Anti-terror fight to continue until all terrorist groups defeated: Iran military chief
• Iran, Iraq, Syria bound by battlefield blood: Assad

• Russia never worried about Assad's visit to Tehran: Senior diplomat

• Iran to help rebuild Syria, restore stability to country: Rouhani

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