Brussels (Web Desk/Agencies): The European Union (EU) has designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a “terrorist organisation” in response to the deadly crackdown on widespread protests.
“This should have happened a long time ago,” EU President Ursula von der Leyen wrote online after foreign ministers from the 27-nation bloc reached the decision.
Although mostly symbolic, the EU’s action has already prompted a warning from Iran, which said it could have “destructive consequences.”
Alongside the terrorist designation, the bloc announced visa restrictions and asset freezes on 21 Iranian officials and state bodies, including the interior minister, the prosecutor general, and regional IRGC commanders, in response to the suppression of demonstrators.
Iranian authorities have confirmed that more than 3,000 people died during the protests, though they claim most were security personnel or bystanders killed by “rioters.”
Formed after the 1979 revolution, the IRGC serves as the ideological arm of Iran’s military and is tasked with protecting the clerical leadership. The group also has extensive business interests across the Iranian economy, including in key strategic sectors.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas indicated that, despite the new listing, diplomatic ties with Iran are expected to continue.
The decision follows recent endorsements from France and Italy, with France having previously been cautious due to concerns over the safety of European citizens in Iran and the importance of maintaining diplomatic engagement.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot emphasized that “there can be no impunity for the crimes committed,” calling on Iranian authorities to release thousands of political prisoners, halt executions, and end the violent repression of civilians.
He also urged Tehran to restore internet access, giving Iranian citizens the ability to shape their own future.
The EU has already imposed sanctions on hundreds of Iranian individuals and organizations over earlier protest crackdowns and Iran’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
While the IRGC and its senior commanders were already under EU sanctions, adding the group to the terrorist list is largely symbolic and unlikely to have a major impact on its operations.
Reacting to the move, Iran expressed strong condemnation and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denounced the decision as “yet another major strategic mistake.
The country’s military also criticized the European Union, calling its action “illogical, irresponsible, and fueled by spite,” and accused the bloc of merely following the directives of Iran’s longstanding adversaries, the United States and Israel.
Iranian authorities have attributed the recent protests to these foreign powers, claiming that their agents orchestrated “riots” and a “terrorist operation” that hijacked demonstrations that had initially begun over economic hardships.