Alwaght- Rallies have been held across Iran to express support for the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) following the hostile US decision to blacklist the force.
The rallies took place after the weekly Friday prayers with demonstrators chanting slogans and holding placards in support of the IRGC.
The demonstrations came after numerous expressions of support by the Iranian public and different political factions were made for the popular military organization.
Addressing worshipers at weekly Friday prayers, Tehran interim Friday prayers leader Ayatollah Mohammad Ali Movahedi Kermani denounced the US measure.
Ayatollah Kermani referred to statements made by US officials implicating that Washington had effectively helped in the formation of numerous terrorist groups such as ISIS, saying "the US is the mother of terrorism."
Ayatollah Kermani also highlighted the IRGC's role in countering terrorist groups in the region, describing the US blacklisting as "comical".
On April 8, US President Donald Trump blacklisted the IRGC, which helped the national armies of Iraq and Syria rid their countries of Daesh terrorists in late 2017.
Following Trump’s declaration on Monday, Iran reciprocated by designating the US Central Command (CENTCOM), the portion of the US military responsible for protecting American security interests in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, as a terrorist organization.
The hostile US move has been backed by the Saudi and Israeli regime but has attracted widespread condemnation globally.
