In brief
In light of Iran's severe treatment of protesters, the EU has added the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its terrorist list. This move aligns with actions taken by nations like Australia and Canada, highlighting the IRGC's significant role in Iran's repressive measures. Iranian officials have condemned this decision while the EU implements new sanctions against Iranian leaders involved in the unrest.
The European Union has added Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its terrorist list in response to Tehran's deadly crackdown on protesters in recent weeks.
Repression cannot go unanswered, the bloc's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said, adding the move would put the IRGC - a major military, economic and political force in Iran - on the same level as jihadists like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the EU decision was a stunt and a major strategic mistake.
Human rights groups estimate thousands of protesters were killed by security forces, including the IRGC, during weeks of unrest in December and January.
Speaking in Brussels on Thursday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described it as the most violent repression in Iran's modern history and said there could be no impunity for the crimes committed.
The EU also placed new sanctions on six entities and 15 individuals in Iran, including Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and Prosecutor General Mohammad Movahedi Azad, targeting those responsible for the violent repression of peaceful protests.
Organizations on the EU's terrorist list are subject to sanctions such as travel bans and asset freezes, designed to dismantle their support networks. The IRGC is estimated to have about 190,000 active personnel and is pivotal in influencing regional dynamics through military, economic, and political means.
While Australia, Canada, and the US have already classified the IRGC as a terror group, it remains to be seen if the UK will follow suit, as they maintain a policy of not discussing specific organizations concerning proscription.
The EU's announcement arrives against the backdrop of heightened geopolitical tensions, with US President Donald Trump's recent warnings indicating a growing potential for military action in the region.
