UPDATE - Tehran designates US' CENTCOM 'terrorist organization'

UPDATES WITH IRANIAN FM’S REMARKS; HEADLINE, DECK REVISED

By Muhammet Kursun

TEHRAN (AA) – In an apparent tit-for-tat move, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council on Monday formally designated U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) as a “terrorist organization.”

Accusing the U.S. of being “a supporter of terrorism,” the council announced its decision to add CENTCOM -- along with “affiliated forces” -- to its list of “terrorist” entities in a statement.

The move comes in ostensible retaliation for a U.S. decision -- announced only hours earlier -- to designate Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (RGC) as a “foreign terrorist organization.”

In its statement, Iran’s security council blasted Washington’s “baseless” decision, which, it asserted, “endangers regional and global peace and violates UN resolutions.”

Iran’s RGC, it went on to point out, “has fought terrorist groups such as Daesh, Al-Qaeda, and the Al-Nusra Front.”

The U.S. move marks the first time a government agency has been formally designated as a “terrorist organization.”

Later, Foreign Minister Javad Zarif described the US move as a “gift” for Israeli Premier Benjamin Netanyahu before tomorrow’s election.

“A(nother) misguided election-eve gift to Netanyahu. A(nother) dangerous U.S. misadventure in the region,” Zarif wrote on Twitter.

Iran’s powerful RGC was initially established to serve as the vanguard of Iran's 1979 revolution.

It currently enjoys more autonomy than the rest of the Iranian military, answering only to Iran's supreme leader.

The RGC is also solely responsible for Iran's formidable ballistic missile program.

Monday's action by the U.S. opens the door for the potential criminal prosecution of individuals who do business with the RGC.

It could serve to hinder U.S. diplomacy, however, particularly in Iraq and Lebanon, where local officials are in regular contact with RGC representatives.