Senator Graham backs Iranian protesters, rejects nuclear deal

Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf criticized the European Union for deciding to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, calling the Revolutionary Guards among the world’s most effective “counterterrorism forces.”

"The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is one of the strongest and most effective anti-terrorism forces in the world; only those who stand on the side of the terrorists themselves could deny the IRGC's record in the fight against ISIS terrorism," he said in a post on X.

"Supporting terrorism will bring nothing but regret to the European countries," he added.

US Senator Lindsey Graham on Thursday said protesters in Iran are seeking an end to the Islamic Republic rather than a renewed nuclear agreement, as he voiced support for ongoing demonstrations.

"The Iranian religious Nazi murderous regime and a fair nuclear deal do not go in the same sentence. The protestors who have been dying by the thousands are not seeking a fair nuclear deal for the ayatollah," Graham posted on X.

"They are seeking to end the ayatollah’s repressive regime so they can have a life with freedom and without fear," he added. "Keep protesting. Help is on the way."

US Senator Lindsey Graham said protesters in Iran are seeking an end to the Islamic Republic rather than a renewed nuclear agreement, as he voiced support for ongoing demonstrations.

"The Iranian religious Nazi murderous regime and a fair nuclear deal do not go in the same sentence. The protestors who have been dying by the thousands are not seeking a fair nuclear deal for the ayatollah," Graham posted on X on Thursday.

"They are seeking to end the ayatollah’s repressive regime so they can have a life with freedom and without fear," he added. "Keep protesting, help is on the way."

Iran’s military warned on Wednesday that it would respond immediately to any new attack, saying military plans and orders were already in place to deal with a range of possible scenarios.

“If the enemy commits another foolish move and once again falls into miscalculation, we will respond to them immediately and in real time,” army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia was quoted as saying by state media.

"US aircraft carriers are seriously vulnerable to hypersonic missiles," he warned, asserting that "orders have been issued and the required plans have been prepared" for various scenarios.

The European Union will move rapidly to implement a legally binding designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation, Germany’s foreign minister said on Wednesday, calling the decision long overdue.

In a statement issued on January 29, Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the designation sent a strong political message and showed that the EU recognised the scale of repression inside Iran.

“The next step will be the rapid implementation towards a legally binding listing,” he said, adding that the bloc stood “side by side with the Iranian people” and opposed repression.

Wadephul accused the Revolutionary Guard and its auxiliary forces of attacking protesters with extreme violence, carrying out executions, and playing a destabilising role across the Middle East.

“In short, they have blood on their hands,” he added.