Former President Donald Trump suggested he might consider military action to "wipe out" Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), responding to a question about potential actions.
"Yeah, it does. We will see what's happening," Trump stated when asked if he would take such a step.
The IRGC is a powerful entity within Iran's government, influencing political and security matters. Established after Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, it functions as an ideological armed force, operating parallel to the regular military and charged with protecting the regime. The organization currently comprises an estimated 190,000 active members.
Since the beginning of recent conflicts, the IRGC has been a leading force in Iran's response. Military and security officials affiliated with the IRGC, including commander-in-chief Ahmad Vahidi and IRGC Navy commander Ali Azmaei, have reportedly advocated for continuing confrontations with the U.S.
The United States designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization in 2019. This designation was followed by U.S. Treasury Department sanctions announced on Wednesday against seven individuals and entities. These sanctions target support for the IRGC's weapons procurement and actions deemed destabilizing by the U.S.