The White House released a statement Monday designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a foreign terrorist organization under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

This is the first time the US has formally labeled another country’s military as a terrorist organization. The briefing statement indicates that IRGC “actively participates in, finances, and promotes terrorism as a tool of statecraft.” The Trump administration has criticized IRGC’s continued role in racketeering and its involvement in the deaths of American service members.

The US will increase its pressure and sanctions to make Iran’s terrorist activity much more difficult to accomplish. The White House also condemns other actors working with IRGC deeming their actions as “bankrolling terrorism.” Although Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu has praised the move as a policy that aligns with both Israel’s and the United State’s interests, Iran has pushed backed against the decision.

In retaliation, Iranian lawmakers have called for listing the US as a terrorist group.