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The European Union on Thursday officially designated Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, a significant escalation in international pressure against Tehran amid its brutal suppression of nationwide protests.
“Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, announcing the unanimous decision by EU foreign ministers in a post on X.
The designation places the Revolutionary Guard “on the same footing with al-Qaida, Hamas, Daesh,” Kallas noted, using the Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group. The move marks a major shift in the EU’s approach to Iran’s powerful military organization.
Alongside the terrorist designation, the 27-nation bloc imposed sanctions on 15 Iranian officials, including top commanders of the Revolutionary Guard, over the violent crackdown on protesters. According to activist tallies, the government’s brutal response has resulted in at least 6,373 deaths.
While largely symbolic, these actions add to mounting international pressures on the Islamic Republic, which is also facing potential military action from U.S. President Donald Trump. The American military has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and several guided-missile destroyers to the Middle East, though it remains unclear whether Trump will authorize the use of force.
Iran has responded with threats of pre-emptive strikes against American military bases in the region and Israel. Adding to tensions, Tehran issued a warning to ships that it planned to conduct a naval drill next week including live firing in the Strait of Hormuz—a critical waterway through which approximately 20% of the world’s oil supply travels.
The Revolutionary Guard designation represents a significant diplomatic shift for the EU, particularly for France, which had initially objected to the listing over concerns it would endanger French citizens detained in Iran and diplomatic missions. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot ultimately supported the decision, saying “there can be no impunity for the crimes committed.”
“In Iran, the unbearable repression that has engulfed the peaceful revolt of the Iranian people cannot go unanswered,” Barrot added.
Kristina Kausch, deputy director at the German Marshall Fund, described the listing as “a symbolic act” demonstrating that for the EU, “the dialogue path hasn’t led anywhere and now it’s about isolation and containment as a priority.”
“The designation of a state military arm, of an official pillar of the Iranian state as a terrorist organization is one step short of cutting diplomatic ties,” she noted. “But they haven’t cut diplomatic ties and they won’t.”
The EU also sanctioned six organizations in Iran, including entities involved in monitoring online content, as the country remains in the grip of a three-week internet blackout. These sanctions freeze assets and ban travel to Europe for those affected. Given the Revolutionary Guard’s vast business interests across Iran, the designation could lead to the seizure of any assets it holds in Europe.
Iran’s economy continues to deteriorate under existing international sanctions, with the rial currency hitting a record low of 1.6 million to $1 on Thursday. These economic woes initially sparked the protests that eventually broadened into challenges to the theocratic government.
The Revolutionary Guard emerged from Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution as a force dedicated to protecting the country’s Shiite clerical leadership. Operating parallel to the regular armed forces, it gained prominence during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s and later expanded into private enterprise under Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s direction.
The Guard’s Basij force has likely been instrumental in suppressing the demonstrations, particularly since January 8 when authorities cut off internet and international telephone access for Iran’s 85 million citizens. Videos smuggled out of the country via satellite connections show individuals believed to be Guard members shooting and beating protesters.
Meanwhile, Iran appears to be preparing for potential conflict. A notice to mariners issued Thursday warned of “naval shooting” exercises in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday and Monday. The hard-line Keyhan newspaper ominously suggested Tehran might attempt to close the vital waterway by force, writing that Iran and its allies “have their finger on a trigger that, at the first enemy mistake, will sever the world’s energy artery.”
Tehran’s mayor also announced plans to build bomb shelters and install air-raid sirens in the capital, although it was described as a long-term project.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency reports at least 6,373 people have been killed in recent weeks of violence, including 5,993 protesters, 214 government-affiliated forces, 113 children, and 53 non-protesting civilians. More than 42,450 people have reportedly been arrested. Iran’s government claims a much lower death toll of 3,117, a figure that experts believe significantly underrepresents the actual casualties.
The scale of this crackdown surpasses any other period of unrest in Iran in decades, approaching levels of violence not seen since the 1979 Revolution.
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9 Comments
The EU’s move to list the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group is a bold and necessary step. Iran’s regime must be held accountable for the brutal crackdown on protesters, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of its own people.
The EU’s move to list the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group reflects the gravity of Iran’s actions against its own people. This designation puts the Guard on par with other dangerous extremist groups, underscoring the global condemnation of the regime’s violent suppression of dissent.
Agreed, this is a strong statement from the EU. Iran’s government must be held accountable for its egregious human rights abuses.
This is a strong statement from the EU, underscoring the gravity of Iran’s actions against its own citizens. Designating the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization is a clear message that the regime’s violent suppression of dissent will not be tolerated.
Absolutely, this decision sends a powerful signal that the international community is united in condemning Iran’s human rights abuses. It remains to be seen how the regime will respond to these heightened pressures.
The EU’s decision to list the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group is a significant escalation in the global response to Iran’s crackdown on protesters. It will be interesting to see how this affects Iran’s relations with the EU and other international actors going forward.
This is a significant escalation in the international pressure on Iran. Designating the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization shows how deeply the EU is concerned about the regime’s brutal crackdown on protesters. It will be interesting to see how Iran responds to these new sanctions and designations.
While largely symbolic, this move by the EU adds to the mounting international pressure on Iran. The regime must face consequences for its brutal suppression of the nationwide protests and its blatant disregard for human rights.
Designating the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization is a bold step, but a necessary one given the regime’s violent crackdown. The EU is clearly signaling that the regime’s actions are unacceptable on the international stage.