Additional Coverage:
EU Labels Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as Terrorist Group Amid Crackdown
The European Union took a significant step on Thursday, officially moving to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Germany quickly pledged to ensure this decision becomes legally binding as soon as possible.
This move comes alongside a fresh wave of EU sanctions targeting Iranian officials and entities. These measures are a direct response to the violent crackdown on protests and widespread killings that have gripped Iran since late December. Tehran’s military support for Russia was also cited as a factor in the new sanctions.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the designation and the sanctions package. In a post on X, she stated, “I welcome the political agreement on new sanctions against the murderous Iranian regime.
And on the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. This was long overdue.”
She further emphasized, “‘Terrorist’ is indeed how you call a regime that crushes its own people’s protests in blood. Europe stands with the people of Iran in their brave fight for freedom.”
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul reiterated the EU’s commitment to swift implementation, calling it a powerful political message reflecting the severe repression within Iran. “The next step will be the rapid implementation towards a legally binding listing,” Wadephul warned, adding that the EU stands “side by side with the Iranian people” against repression. Wadephul accused the IRGC and its auxiliary forces of using extreme violence against protesters, carrying out executions, and destabilizing the Middle East.
According to the Human Rights Activists News Agency, as of Thursday, a staggering 6,373 fatalities have been confirmed, with an additional 17,091 deaths still under review. The organization also reported ongoing communication restrictions, limited internet access, and continued economic and social fallout, noting that arrests and security pressures have entered a “post-crackdown phase.”
Reuters reported that EU foreign ministers also approved new human rights sanctions targeting Iranian “individuals and entities” linked to the suppression of protests. Those sanctioned include Iran’s interior minister, senior IRGC commanders, police chiefs, judges from revolutionary courts, and cyber officials involved in censorship and surveillance. Some individuals will also face sanctions for “providing support” to Russia.
The United States designated the IRGC a Foreign Terrorist Organization in April 2019, followed by Canada in June 2024. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have also previously designated the IRGC as a terrorist group.
Advocacy group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) lauded the EU’s decision and urged prompt implementation, calling on the U.K. to follow suit. In a statement, the group asserted, “UANI applauds the EU for announcing its intention to designate the IRGC, the Islamic Republic’s ideological army, as the terrorists that they are.
We now urge the United Kingdom to proscribe the IRGC, following the lead of the EU, the United States, Canada, and Australia. The IRGC must be denied the ability to operate with impunity abroad.”
In response to the news, Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, criticized the EU’s designation. He stated in a post on X, “The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is one of the strongest and most effective anti-terrorism forces in the world; only those who stand on the side of the terrorists themselves could deny the IRGC’s record in the fight against ISIS terrorism.”