EU Brands Iran’s Revolutionary Guard A Terrorist Organization

EU Brands Iran’s Revolutionary Guard A Terrorist Organization

The European Union has formally designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, marking a major escalation in Brussels’ response to Tehran’s domestic repression and military activity abroad.

The decision was approved on January 29 by the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council and announced by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who said Iran’s conduct could no longer be ignored.

“Repression cannot go unanswered,” Kallas said in a statement. “Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise.”

Alongside the designation, EU ministers adopted a new round of sanctions targeting senior Iranian officials over human rights abuses and Tehran’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Those sanctioned include Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, Prosecutor General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, and multiple senior IRGC commanders. The EU’s human rights sanctions regime now applies to 247 individuals and 50 entities linked to repression inside Iran.

The bloc also expanded its sanctions targeting Iran’s drone and ballistic missile programmes. Four individuals and six organisations tied to Iran’s weapons production and UAV development were added under a separate regime designed to curb the spread of Iranian military technology.

The newly listed figures include businessmen, company executives and shareholders accused of supporting Iran’s weapons infrastructure. In total, 24 individuals and 26 organisations are now sanctioned under the EU’s missile and drone framework.

Ukraine welcomed the move. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha praised the designation and urged the EU to go further by approving a tougher 20th sanctions package against Russia, citing Iran’s continued military cooperation with Moscow.

The IRGC designation represents one of the strongest steps yet taken by the EU against Tehran and signals a hardening stance as unrest inside Iran and regional tensions continue to grow.

Key Takeaways

• The EU has officially designated Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation

• New sanctions target senior Iranian officials, IRGC commanders, and weapons-linked firms

• Ukraine praised the move and urged tougher action against Russia and its allies

SOURCE: UNITED24 MEDIA