Brussels – European Union foreign ministers were expected Thursday to agree on placing Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) on the bloc’s official terrorist list, following a deadly crackdown on mass protests across Iran.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the move was necessary to hold the Guards accountable:
“If you act as a terrorist, you should also be treated as terrorists,” Kallas told journalists ahead of the ministers’ meeting.
She added that the designation would put the IRGC on the same level as jihadist groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Symbolic but Significant
While largely symbolic, the EU’s decision sends a strong message of condemnation to Tehran after thousands of people were reported killed during protests that rocked the country.
Alongside the designation, the EU also adopted visa bans and asset freezes on 21 Iranian state entities and officials, including the interior minister, prosecutor general, and regional IRGC commanders, over their role in the repression.
Iranian authorities have acknowledged more than 3,000 deaths, claiming most were security forces or bystanders killed by “rioters.” Rights groups, however, say the toll is far higher potentially in the tens of thousands and accuse the IRGC of directly firing on protesters.
France and Italy Shift Positions
The IRGC, created after the 1979 revolution to protect Iran’s clerical leadership, wields vast influence across the country’s economy, controlling major strategic sectors.
The EU’s action follows a notable policy shift by France and Italy, both of which had previously been reluctant to support the designation. Paris had feared the impact on Europeans detained in Iran and sought to preserve diplomatic channels.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on arrival in Brussels:
“There can be no impunity for the crimes committed. This decision is also an appeal by France to the Iranian authorities to release the prisoners thrown by thousands into the regime’s prisons, to end the executions that are perpetuating the most violent repression in Iran’s modern history.”
Barrot also urged Tehran to end its internet blackout and “give back to the Iranian people the capacity to choose their own future.”
Global Context
The EU’s move aligns with similar classifications already enacted by the United States, Canada, and Australia. The bloc has previously sanctioned hundreds of Iranian officials and entities over protest crackdowns and Tehran’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
However, analysts note that the IRGC and its senior commanders are already under EU sanctions, meaning the terror listing may have limited practical impact.
Conclusion
By designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization, the EU is signaling its strongest condemnation yet of Iran’s violent repression of dissent. While the measure may not significantly alter the Guards’ operations, it underscores Europe’s growing willingness to confront Tehran over human rights abuses and geopolitical destabilization.
