Congresswoman Tenney Releases Report and Resolution Calling Out Iran’s Extremist IRGC

Washington, DC – Congresswoman Claudia Tenney (NY-24) today released a comprehensive report detailing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) terrorist activity around the world and calling on our partners and allies to join the United States in designating the body as a terrorist organization. Tenney also introduced a bipartisan resolution urging the European Union to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization.

Tenney's report provides a comprehensive look into the history, mission, and leaders of this terrorist organization that continues to violently oppress the people of Iran as they peacefully protest. This report has received support from various advocacy groups, including JINSA, UANI, FDD, and prominent leaders in the field, including Secretary Mike Pompeo, former Special Representative for Iran Elliott Abrams, and former Deputy National Security Advisor Victoria Coates. Read Tenney's full report on the IRGC here. 

Tenney’s bipartisan resolution specifically urges the European Union to expeditiously designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization under the European Union’s Common Position 931. H.Res. 288 was introduced alongside Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA), Rep. Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ), and Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL). This resolution is supported by AIPAC, JINSA, United Against Nuclear Iran Action, FDD Action, and AJC. The full text of the resolution can be viewed here.

Additional cosponsors include Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Ralph Norman (R-SC), Lucy McBath (D-GA), Zach Nunn (R-IA), Julia Brownley (D-CA), Lauren Boebert (R-CO), Jared Moskowitz (D-FL), Nancy Mace (R-SC), and Nanette Barragan (D-CA), Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL), Kathy Manning (D-NC), Mike Lawler (R-NY), Dina Titus (D-NV), Brian Mast (R-FL), David Trone (D-MD), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Mike Levin (D-CA), Susie Lee (D-NV), and Pat Ryan (D-NY).

“Combatting the IRGC is one of the most urgent national security agenda items today,” said Congresswoman Tenney. “I am honored to release this in-depth report detailing the full breadth of the IRGC’s terrorist activity. Congress is united in opposing the IRGC’s terror campaign. We call on our allies and partners to take action, as we have done, to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. This designation will increase pressure and send a clear message to the Islamic Republic that its terror campaigns must stop.”

Tenney has been a leading voice in countering the IRGC and supporting human rights in Iran. Some key actions include:

• Introduced H.Con.Res.7, Condemning the Iranian Regime’s human rights abuses against the brave women and men of Iran peacefully demonstrating in more than 133 cities. This resolution passed the House of Representatives in January.
• Led a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Secretary of State Antony Blinken encouraging them to impose sanctions on 227 Iranian Majles (parliament) members who called for “no leniency” against the brave Iranian protestors. Further, the letter called on the Administration to impose sanctions on the family members of these Majles members who seek to study, work, or acquire property in the United States.
• Led a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, asking the Secretary to approve any license requests it receives to ensure entities can rapidly deploy communications services and Internet access to the Iranian people amid ongoing protests and the regime’s widespread and deliberate Internet blackouts.
• Cosponsor of H.R. 589, the MAHSA Act, which requires the Executive Branch to provide regular determinations of whether Executive Orders 13876, 13353, and 13224, which impose sanctions on the Iranian regime for human rights abuses, support of terrorism, and corruption, can be applied to individuals in high-level positions of authority within the Islamic Republic of Iran. These Executive Orders also cover IRGC officers and soldiers.
• Cosponsor of H.R. 869, the REGIME Act, which requires the Secretary of State to review whether the following individuals are ineligible for entry to the U.S. under existing law: any member of the IRGC, Iranian armed forces, Iranian law enforcement, the Iranian government, offices controlled by the Ayatollah, or a family member of any of these individuals.

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