Hossein Salami, the Commander of the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC), has been awarded a ‘medal of conquest’ by Iran's Supreme Leader amidst growing calls for the designation of the IRGC.

The US called on the United Kingdom in October to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, designated in the US since 2019. 

Salami announced that he had a meeting with Khamenei on Sunday to receive the medal.

During the ceremony on Sunday, Salami stated, "This medal is the result of all the efforts of the IRGC, which was symbolically awarded to me ... It belongs to our brothers who defend the dignity and independence of this land in sub-zero temperatures with steadfast hearts, firm steps, and hands on the trigger," likely referring to IRGC proxy groups in the region.

Iran is currently embroiled in a regional proxy war, with its militias supporting the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 from Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq.

The conflict has drawn in international players, including the US and UK since Yemen's Houthi militants, armed and supported by Tehran, have launched deadly drone and missile attacks against commercial vessels in the Red Sea.

In February, the United States, in a joint operation with Britain, initiated dozens of strikes against Iran-backed groups in Iraq and Syria, as well as its Yemeni proxy, the Houthis