EU lists Iran Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group News
Armijae, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
EU lists Iran Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group

The European Union (EU) has designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization following a violent crackdown on protesters that killed thousands in recent weeks. The designation was adopted by EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels on Thursday, and places the IRGC under the bloc’s terrorism framework.

EU officials framed the designation as a response to mass repression. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas said the bloc had taken a “decisive step,” adding that “any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise.”

The move follows recent sanctions against Iranian officials and entities linked to human rights violations and Tehran’s military support for Russia in the Russia-Ukraine war. 

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul welcomed the decision, calling it long overdue. He described the Revolutionary Guard as responsible for “immeasurable brutality” against Iran’s own population and for destabilizing actions beyond its borders, including alleged plots in Europe. Wadephul said the next step would be rapid implementation toward a legally binding listing across the EU. 

Iran’s Parliament passed a resolution declaring the armed forces of countries that supported the EU decision to be terrorist organizations, while senior officials warned that Europe would face consequences. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the EU of selective outrage and strategic miscalculation, arguing that the move would worsen regional instability and ultimately harm European interests, particularly through energy and security spillovers.

Despite the political momentum, the designation raises legal and diplomatic questions. Under EU law, terrorist listings are typically based on judicial findings from a member state, a requirement Iranian officials argue has not been met. Iranian state media condemned the decision as unlawful and politically motivated, and accused the EU of violating its own procedures.

The IRGC, created after Iran’s 1979 Revolution to protect the clerical system, holds immense power within the state. The organization controls major sectors of the economy and oversees Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs. It also plays a central role in Iran’s internal security and external military operations.

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