US Expresses Concern Over IRGC Presence at Qatar Defense Exhibition

The presence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at Qatar’s defense exhibition has become a contentious issue for America’s ally. According to media reports, Iran’s Defense Ministry booth at the exhibition was built next to a drone manufacturing company whose products the United States used to kill Qasem Soleimani.

The presence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and military equipment manufactured by the Islamic Republic of Iran at Qatar’s defense exhibition has generated considerable reactions. The U.S. State Department expressed concern about this matter on Thursday.

Ned Price, spokesman for the U.S. State Department, said: “We are deeply concerned and displeased by the presence of Iranian military officials and officers of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at the defense exhibition in Doha, Qatar.”

He further described Iran as “the greatest threat and source of maritime instability in the Persian Gulf region.” Iran displayed several aircraft models, missiles, and other military equipment at the exhibition.

Reuters reported on Iran’s presence at the exhibition: “The IRGC displayed its missiles in a country that hosts the largest U.S. military base in the region.”

The United States, as Qatar’s principal ally, designates the IRGC as a terrorist organization and has imposed stringent sanctions against Iran’s military forces. The Defense Ministry, which represents Iran’s booth, is also subject to these sanctions.

According to Reuters, Iran’s booth was built next to the booth of American company General Atomics. This company manufactures drones that the U.S. government used to kill Qasem Soleimani, the former commander of the Quds Force.

Iranian media reported that some IRGC commanders are present at Qatar’s defense industry exhibition, including the commander of the IRGC Navy. This has attracted greater attention from American media outlets.

United States-Qatar Relations

The presence of the IRGC at the Doha defense exhibition comes as Qatar is considered a close regional ally of the United States and hosts the headquarters of U.S. Central Command at Al-Udeid Air Base.

Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defense, announced on February 1, 2022, prior to his meeting with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, among journalists at the Pentagon, that with increasing threats from missile attacks and unmanned aircraft, the United States and Qatar have entered a new phase of cooperation for more integrated operations against these attacks.

He stated that U.S. defense cooperation with Qatar is strong and serves as a cornerstone of strategic relations between the two countries.

IRGC and the United States of America

The United States has imposed severe sanctions against Iran’s military forces. America has restricted trade with Iran’s army and especially the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Washington officially designates the IRGC as an international terrorist organization.

Qasem Soleimani was killed on December 31, 2019, in a U.S. drone strike at Baghdad airport. Donald Trump, former U.S. president, identified Soleimani as responsible for the deaths of “thousands” of U.S. citizens.

Ned Price warned Qatar’s officials regarding the IRGC’s presence at the defense exhibition and said: “The buying and selling of Iran’s weapons in general is subject to different laws in America, including laws related to terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, including sanctions.”

Possibility of IRGC Removal from Terrorist Group List

According to reports, removing the IRGC from the list of terrorist groups in the United States is one of the Islamic Republic’s most important demands for finalizing the revival of the JCPOA.

Jen Psaki, White House spokesperson, implicitly raised the possibility of removing the IRGC from the terrorist groups list on Friday, March 18, and defended such an action.

Criticizing the Trump administration’s measures, she stated: “The notion that the previous administration’s measures to withdraw from the nuclear agreement with Iran have reduced the IRGC’s actions is incorrect.”

Israel’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister on March 18 urged the United States not to remove the IRGC from the list of terrorist organizations.

Similarly, on March 23, approximately 80 Republican members of Congress warned in letters to Anthony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State, about the possible removal of the IRGC from the list of foreign terrorist organizations.

Ibrahim Raisi, on his fourth foreign trip on February 23, traveled to Doha, capital of Qatar, and met and held talks with Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of the country, regarding the Persian Gulf region.

After his discussion with Qatar’s Emir, Iran’s president stated in a press conference that the two countries have agreed to “seriously increase cooperation in the fields of economics, trade, energy, infrastructure, food security, health, and culture.”

In January of last year, Muhammad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatar’s Foreign Minister, told Al Jazeera television network that his country uses available open channels with Washington and Tehran to bring their views closer to each other.

Simultaneously, Chris Murphy, a U.S. Democratic senator, in his discussion with Al Jazeera welcomed Doha’s efforts to revive the JCPOA and said he hopes that with Qatar’s help, all parties can be brought back to this agreement.

Source: DW