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The same can be said of the IRGC and its Quds Force. The leaders of the IRGC as a whole have recently uttered blood-curdling threats of genocide against Israel and Israelis.

The IRGC — and not only its Quds force — is designated under the Canadian economic sanctions regime, but not under the Criminal Code. This creates all sorts of legal anomalies.

A Canadian cannot send the IRGC a rocket or missile. But a Canadian can send the IRGC money, which it can then give to the Quds force to buy a rocket or missile.

The leaders of the IRGC have recently uttered blood-curdling threats of genocide against Israel

A Canadian can sue the government of Iran for damages resulting from an act of terrorism committed by the Quds Force. But a Canadian cannot sue the government of Iran for damages resulting from an act of terrorism committed by a different component of the IRGC.

The downing of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 by the IRGC has perversely led some to argue that it is unwise to list the IRGC at this time. They argue that such a designation would work against the interests of the victims’ surviving families by hindering co-operation with the Iranian government.

In reality, designation would help these families by allowing them to sue the Iranian government for damages suffered as a result of the plane’s destruction. The Canadian Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act allows any person who has suffered damages as a result of a terrorist act by a listed entity to sue a listed state for those damages. Iran is a listed state. The courts have held that the statute operates retroactively. So, if the IRGC were listed, Iran could become liable for damages suffered from the recent tragedy.