TEHRAN – The General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces has denounced Ecuador’s decision to blacklist the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), asserting that it serves the agenda of the global hegemonic system led by the United States and backed by Israel.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Armed Forces described Ecuador’s step as “irrational, desperate, and illegal.”

The statement warned that such measures pave the way for Washington to expand “acts of insecurity and evil worldwide,” while encouraging the child-killing Zionist regime to continue committing genocide in Gaza and beyond.

It stressed that far from being a terrorist entity, the IRGC has played a central role in combating terrorist groups across the region which are supported and armed by the US and Israel. The Armed Forces underlined that the IRGC’s mission is to safeguard the Iranian nation, its sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

The statement further pointed to Palestinian and Lebanese resistance movements, Hamas and Hezbollah, which are engaged in defending their nations against Israeli occupation. It posed a rhetorical question to Quito: “Who are the real terrorists—the IRGC, Hamas, and Hezbollah, who defend their people, or the US and the Israeli regime, who invade sovereign states, disregard international law, and commit aggression without restraint?”

Tehran’s military establishment reaffirmed its commitment to defending the Iranian nation and standing alongside the people of Palestine and Lebanon—particularly the besieged civilians of Gaza—while protecting their legitimate rights. It also urged the Ecuadorian government to abide by international law and human rights principles instead of aligning with US and Israeli policies.

The General Staff concluded by warning that the Iranian nation and its Armed Forces, especially the IRGC, will not hesitate to defend the country against “any aggression, at any level, and by any actor.” It added that Iran will confront the “excessive demands of the US and Israel with strength and courage,” declaring that no threat can weaken the nation’s resolve.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa signed the executive decree on September 16, officially designating Hamas, Hezbollah, and the IRGC as terrorist organizations. The decree cited assessments from Ecuador’s National Intelligence Center (CNI), which claimed that the groups have a presence in South America and potential links to domestic criminal networks.