The EU designates the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran as a "terrorist organization"

The foreign ministers of the EU member states agreed on Thursday (January 29th) to include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran on the EU's list of terrorist organizations, classifying this powerful military force alongside the extremist groups "Islamic State" and Al-Qaeda. This marks a symbolic shift in Europe's attitude towards the Iranian leadership.

Reuters reported that EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kallas posted on the X platform: "Repression must not be ignored. Any regime that slaughters thousands of its own people is courting its own downfall."

The President of the European Commission, Frans Timmerman, welcomed this decision, saying that it was long overdue.

Van der Leeuw wrote in X: "It is appropriate to describe a regime that uses violent means to suppress the protests of its own people as a 'terrorist' regime. Europe stands with the people of Iran and supports their courageous struggle for freedom."

On the same day, the Council of the European Union issued a statement saying that it has decided to impose sanctions on 15 officials and six entities including Iran's Interior Minister Momeini. The relevant individuals and entities have been added to the list of assets freeze and visa restrictions.

According to the communique, the officials subject to sanctions this time also include members of the judicial system such as the Iranian Attorney General, several commanders of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, senior officials of the police and law enforcement forces.

The communique states that currently, the EU's restrictions on Iran have affected 247 individuals and 50 entities. These measures include freezing assets, prohibiting relevant individuals from entering the EU, and prohibiting the provision of funds or economic resources to them, etc.

On the morning of the 29th, Dutch Foreign Minister Van Velle said: "We must send such a signal. The bloody incidents we have witnessed and the brutal violence against protesters are intolerable." Previously, France and Italy, which had been reluctant to include the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the list of terrorist organizations, also expressed their support this week.