European Union foreign ministers agreed to classify the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, similar to Islamic State and al Qaeda, reflecting a new stance on Iran’s leadership. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that repression must be addressed and emphasized that any regime killing its own people is doomed. The IRGC, created after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, has significant control over the economy and armed forces, overseeing Iran’s missile and nuclear programs.
While some EU member states were hesitant about listing the IRGC due to concerns about hindered communication with Iran and risks to European citizens, a violent crackdown on protests in Iran, resulting in thousands of deaths, accelerated support for the designation. Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel stressed the need to condemn the violence against protesters. France and Italy, previously cautious, supported the decision this week.
Despite worries that designating the IRGC a terrorist group could sever ties with Iran, Kallas indicated that diplomatic channels would likely stay open. The EU also imposed sanctions on 15 individuals and six entities linked to severe human rights violations in Iran, including the Iranian Interior Minister and several IRGC commanders. Additional sanctions targeted Iran’s drone and missile programs, extending the ban on exporting related technologies from the EU to Iran.
With information from Reuters
