EU Labels Iran's Revolutionary Guards as Terrorists in Bold Move

Tue Feb 03 2026 14:24:12 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The EU takes a decisive step against Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) by designating it as a terrorist organization following deadly state responses to protests.

In a significant action, the European Union has officially added Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its list of terrorist organizations. This decision comes in light of the brutal crackdown on protesters by the Iranian government, which has reportedly resulted in thousands of deaths. The EU's foreign ministers highlighted the necessity of this step as a response to state-led repression against civil dissent. The IRGC is now categorized alongside known jihadist groups, signaling a shift in the EU's approach towards Iran.

EU Labels Iran's Revolutionary Guards as Terrorists in Bold Move

The European Union has added Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its terrorist list in response to Tehran's deadly crackdown on protesters in recent weeks.

EU foreign ministers described this as a decisive step against the repression faced by protesters, with Kaja Kallas, the bloc’s foreign minister, indicating that repression cannot go unanswered.

With this designation, the IRGC, a significant military and political entity in Iran, is now aligned with jihadist organizations like al-Qaeda and ISIS. Human rights groups have highlighted that thousands of lives have been lost due to the violence, particularly during unrest in December and January.

Kallas underscored the gravity of the situation, stating, Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise. On the other hand, France, which hesitated initially, voiced strong support for the blacklist, as various ministers expressed the importance of holding Iran accountable for its actions.

The EU's sanctions include travel bans and asset freezes, targeting individuals and entities complicit in the violent repression of peaceful protests. Organizations on this list cannot operate freely across EU nations, while the IRGC operates within Iran and extends influence through support for armed factions abroad.

This significant decision marks a turning point in EU-Iran relations, indicating a tough stance at a time when diplomatic solutions remain crucial.