Iran promised a "crushing" response Monday if President Donald Trump followed through on designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, which nearly every Democratic caucus member voted for him to do.
The IRGC serves as the chief security force of Iran, the world's largest state sponsor of terrorism. Trump is coming up against the Oct. 15 deadline where he is expected to decertify the nuclear deal brokered by the Obama administration and also label IRGC a terrorist group.
"If they do, Iran’s reaction would be firm, decisive and crushing and the United States should bear all its consequences," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said at a news conference reported by state news agency IRNA.
The Trump administration was directed to do so by the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act, which the president signed into law in August. The bill stated the IRGC "is the primary arm of the Government of Iran for executing its policy of supporting terrorist and insurgent groups."
Furthermore, it stated, "Beginning on the date that is 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the President shall impose the sanctions described in subsection (c) with respect to the IRGC and foreign persons that are officials, agents, or affiliates of the IRGC."
The U.S. Senate voted 98-2 for the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act. Every Democrat supported it with the exception of Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with the Democrats.
The lone Republican to vote against it was Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul.
The bill passed 419-3 in the House of Representatives, with all Democrats in the chamber voting for it.