The European Union has taken a decisive step by formally designating Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, marking a significant shift in policy after years of internal division. This move comes in direct response to the Iranian regime's brutal repression of protesters, with EU officials emphasising that such actions cannot remain unchallenged.
EU Foreign Policy Chief Issues Stern Warning
Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, delivered a powerful statement on Thursday, declaring that "repression cannot go unanswered." She further warned that "any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise," highlighting the paramilitary organisation's significant role in suppressing demonstrations across Iran. Her comments were echoed by Hannah Neumann, chair of the European parliament's delegation for relations with Iran, who described the listing as a "long-overdue political signal that massive violence and transnational repression will no longer go unanswered."
Concrete Legal Consequences and Expanded Sanctions
Neumann emphasised that this designation carries substantial legal weight, explaining that "this listing is not merely symbolic. It carries very concrete legal consequences: assets are frozen, and any financial or material support becomes a criminal offence." The EU has simultaneously added fifteen Iranian government officials and six organisations to its sanctions list for their involvement in "serious human rights violations" during the crackdown on protesters.
Those now facing sanctions include Iran's minister of the interior, Eskandar Momeni, alongside several IRGC commanders, senior police officers, and law enforcement officials. The sanctioned entities encompass the Iranian Audio-Visual Media Regulatory Authority and multiple software companies engaged in censoring activities, including trolling campaigns on social media platforms, spreading misinformation and disinformation, and deliberately disrupting internet access.
Growing Sanctions Regime and Regional Tensions
These latest additions mean the European Union has now sanctioned 247 individuals and 50 entities over human rights violations in Iran. Separate restrictions, including asset freezes and travel bans, have also been imposed on Iranian people and organisations aiding Russia's war effort in Ukraine. The long-discussed EU listing follows recent provocative statements from former US President Donald Trump, who told Tehran to negotiate a nuclear deal or face potential military strikes, announcing that a "massive armada" was prepared to act "with speed and violence if necessary."
Regional tensions have been further heightened by reports that the Trump administration will host senior defence and intelligence officials from Israel and Saudi Arabia for talks concerning Iran. Russia, which has strengthened ties with Iran since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, warned on Thursday against any "destabilising" military action in the region. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov cautioned that "any forceful actions can only create chaos in the region and lead to very dangerous consequences in terms of destabilising the security system throughout the region."
Human Rights Catastrophe and International Response
Human rights groups estimate that more than 30,000 people may have been killed in the latest wave of repression, describing a "revenge" campaign unleashed by the regime where doctors and healthcare workers face death sentences for treating injured protesters. The EU's terror designation became possible after France dropped its longstanding opposition, with French foreign minister Jean-Nöel Barrot stating that "the unbearable repression of the peaceful uprising of the Iranian people cannot go unanswered."
France and other member states had previously resisted designating the Iranian regime's state body, fearing it would damage diplomatic channels and endanger their citizens' interests in the country. Belgium had similar concerns but included support for the EU listing in last year's coalition agreement, with foreign minister Maxime Prévot advocating for the terror designation "particularly in light of the atrocities and repression that have been observed in recent weeks."
Iranian Reaction and Historical Context
Tehran's top diplomat strongly criticised the EU's decision, calling it a "major strategic mistake." Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi wrote on social media that "several countries are presently attempting to avert the eruption of all-out war in our region. Europe is instead busy fanning the flames," as Iran faces off with the United States, which has moved a strike force to the Middle East.
Established after the 1979 Islamic revolution, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is an elite paramilitary force loyal to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, separate from Iran's regular army with approximately 150,000 ground troops and its own naval and air forces. The IRGC was previously designated a terrorist organisation by the United States in 2019 during the first Trump administration, followed by Canada in 2024 and Australia in 2025.
