The European Union is preparing to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, placing it alongside extremist groups such as al-Qaeda, Islamic State, Daesh, and Hamas. The move follows growing outrage over the Guard’s alleged role in the violent suppression of nationwide protests, during which more than 6,300 people were reportedly killed, according to NDTV.
The proposal, announced by European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas, requires unanimous approval from all 27 EU member states. If adopted, it would mark one of the strongest actions yet taken by Europe against Tehran. “If you act as a terrorist, you should also be treated as a terrorist,” Kallas said, adding that the decision would send a clear message that repression carries serious consequences.
Kallas, a former prime minister of Estonia, stressed that the designation aims to hold Iranian authorities accountable for what she described as brutal and systematic violence against peaceful demonstrators. She said the move would significantly increase political and economic pressure on Iran, already strained by its close ties with Russia and its alleged role in supplying weapons for Moscow’s war in Ukraine, an accusation Tehran firmly denies.
France, which had earlier opposed the designation over concerns for the safety of its detained citizens and diplomatic missions in Iran, has now shifted its stance. President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed Paris’s support, while French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot declared that “there can be no impunity for the crimes committed.” He added that the harsh repression of Iran’s protest movement “cannot go unanswered.”
The IRGC, founded in 1979 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to protect the Islamic Revolution, has evolved into the most powerful institution in Iran, wielding vast influence over the country’s military, politics, and economy. Operating independently of the regular armed forces, it answers directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader.
Should the EU finalize the listing, it would intensify diplomatic tensions with Tehran and potentially reshape Europe’s broader policy toward Iran, signaling a tougher and more confrontational approach in response to ongoing human rights concerns.
