US backtracks on threat to penalize doing business with IRGC: Report
Tehran (KNA) - The US has backtracked on its earlier threat to penalize anyone engaged in business with Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps after blacklisting the IRGC as a terrorist organization, sources have told Reuters.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has granted exceptions to foreign governments, firms and NGOs who have dealings with the IRGC, Reuters reported late Sunday, citing three current and three former US officials.
The exceptions would allow partner governments like Iraq and Oman as well as humanitarian groups in the region such as the ones in northern Syria and Yemen, to maintain their relations with the IRGC without fear of repercussions.
Based on these exceptions, officials from countries such as Iraq who may have dealings with the IRGC would not necessarily be denied US visas or automatically face sanctions.
However, the US government has also created an exception to the carve-out, retaining the right to sanction any individual in a foreign government, company or NGO who themselves provides "material support" to the IRGC.
The exemptions, a congressional aide and two former US State Department lawyers said, appeared designed to ensure that the rest of the Iranian government, as well as officials from partner governments such as Iraq and Oman who may deal with the IRGC, would not automatically be tainted by its FTO designation.
Source: PressTV