EU Lists Iran’s Revolutionary Guards As Terrorists After Deadly Protests Crackdown
In reaction to Tehran’s violent crackdown on demonstrators in recent weeks, the European Union has put Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on its list of terrorist organizations.
EU foreign ministers adopted the “decisive step” because “repression cannot go unanswered,” according to the bloc’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas.
Prior to the decision, she stated that the IRGC, a significant military, economic, and political force in Iran, would be on par with terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
During weeks of turmoil in December and January, security forces, including the IRGC, are thought to have killed thousands of protestors, according to human rights organizations.
Iran’s security forces are responsible for mass killings.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) January 29, 2026
Today, we are imposing new sanctions on those directly responsible for the violent crackdown on protests that has killed thousands.
I also expect that Foreign Ministers will take a political decision for the EU to… pic.twitter.com/P6Rj1bM3HR
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot called it “the most violent repression in Iran’s modern history” and declared there must be “no impunity for the crimes committed” during a speech in Brussels on Thursday.
France has previously been considered hesitant to add the IRGC to the EU’s terror list over fears this may put an end to all diplomatic ties with Iran.
On Wednesday, however, it took a different turn and publicly supported Italy’s initiative to blacklist the group.
“Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise,” Kaja Kallas said in a brief statement on social media.
Even after adding the IRGC to its list of terrorist organizations, Kallas stated she anticipated that diplomatic ties with Iran would continue to be open.
Organisations on the EU’s terrorist list are subject to sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes, with the aim of removing their support networks.
The EU has also placed new sanctions on six entities and 15 individuals in Iran, including its Interior Minister, Eskandar Momeni, Prosecutor General Mohammad Movahedi Azad, and Iman Afshari, a presiding judge.
Australia, Canada and the US have already classified the IRGC as a terror group, but it has not been proscribed in the UK.
I welcome the political agreement on new sanctions against the murderous Iranian regime
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 29, 2026
And on the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.
This was long overdue.
« Terrorist » is indeed how you call a regime that crushes its own…
On Wednesday, UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy condemned Iran’s “brutal oppression of peaceful protesters”.
However, he said it was long-standing government policy “not to comment on whether a specific organisation is being considered for proscription”.
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The EU’s announcement comes after US President Donald Trump said a “massive Armada” was moving quickly towards Iran “with great power, enthusiasm, and purpose”.
Trump warned that “time was running out” for Iran to negotiate a deal on its nuclear programme and urged Tehran to “come to the table”.
He threatened an attack that was “far worse” than the US strikes on Iran last year if a deal was not reached.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country’s armed forces were ready “with their fingers on the trigger” to “immediately and powerfully respond” to any aggression.
EU Lists Iran’s Revolutionary Guards As Terrorists After Deadly Protests Crackdown
