Foreign Affairs committee  It's a very good question, but it is also very difficult to give an answer to such a question. Another time when I am back.... I'm absolutely not discussing all the facts my colleague has explained, but I don't think, for the moment, that declaring them as a terrorist organization, if they are....

Foreign Affairs committee  The selective aspect will be immediately obvious from a public opinion perspective in the Muslim world, because—

Foreign Affairs committee  Unfortunately, if you want us to use this logic, we'll end up in this situation. As you know, there are many conflicts in the Middle East. As I said in the 11 pages that I sent you, it's extremely difficult to fully exonerate one side and completely blame another. In all these conflicts—mainly identity‑based, but combined with a multitude of other disputes—we can see that many actors also engage in terrorism.

Foreign Affairs committee  —in Muslim public opinion will be “selectivism”. Canada will undoubtedly be branded an Islamophobic country.

Foreign Affairs committee  [Technical difficulty—Editor] countries, especially in the Middle East, there is hesitation. In the Middle East, as you know, even in the Sunni space there is division. The regime is saying something and the population is saying another thing. As I told you and as I want you to understand, it's not the fact that I'm denying what all my colleagues have said.

Foreign Affairs committee  Yes.

Foreign Affairs committee  Sorry. I will just—

Foreign Affairs committee  I think we have to wait—

Foreign Affairs committee  Politically, yes, for sure. However, even though it's legitimate and justifiable, I don't think that it's a good idea right now to include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, on the list of terrorist entities. Will this stop the IRGC from doing what it's doing? I don't know.

Foreign Affairs committee  There is no doubt about that.

Foreign Affairs committee  I just wanted to say that the IRGC is certainly the repressive arm of the Iranian government, obviously one of the most detestable and abhorrent dictatorships in the world. However, given the borderline inflammatory climate in the Middle East and the level of hatred that unfortunately prevails in the Muslim world, it doesn't seem like a good idea to make this type of decision under the current circumstances.

Foreign Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for your invitation. I'll start with a brief introduction. When I speak about the Middle East, it's often—as you know—about controversial topics. This can convey an image that isn't mine. I want to make it clear from the start that I have absolutely no sympathy for the Iranian regime, let alone for the violent Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC.