The commander of Iran’s elite Revolutionary Guards force has issued a threat to U.S. Army forces in the Middle East, saying Tehran will “treat them like IS” — the Islamic State — if his organization is labeled a terrorist group by the Trump administration.
Also, Gen. Mohammad Ali Jafari said if President Trump decides that Iran is not in compliance with the so-called “nuclear deal” signed with the Obama administration and new economic sanctions are put in place, the U.S. will have to “find a new place for its military bases, 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles) away, outside the range of Iranian missiles,” according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency.
“If reports on the U.S. decision to enlist Iran’s IRGC as a terrorist group happen to be true, the Iranian force would also treat the American Army everywhere in the world and especially in the Middle East in the same way as Daesh (IS) terrorists,” he said.
In August, Trump signed the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which pertains to Iran, Russia and North Korea.
Currently, US military bases are located in countries neighboring Iran, less than 500 kilometers (310 miles) from Iran’s borders.
Analyst comment: It’s more likely Jafari’s comments were meant for domestic consumption, but it’s worth noting given Iran’s moves to increase its influence throughout the region.
Why it’s on our radar: Information in this article helps satisfy Priority Intelligence Requirement 4: What are the latest indicators of a new war in the Middle East? Each week in our Strategic Intelligence Summary, we gauge the likelihood and scope of conflict with Russia, China, North Korea, and in the Middle East, and track the latest developments in each region. Subscribe here to receive our premium intelligence products prepared by Intelligence and special operations veterans.
