EU Declares Iran’s IRGC a Terror Group

In a dramatic policy shift with far-reaching implications, the European Union has officially designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. The decision, announced Thursday, marks a turning point in Europe’s stance toward the Iranian regime following years of debate and mounting evidence of systematic repression and regional destabilization.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the move as a necessary response to the regime’s brutal crackdown on dissent. “Repression cannot go unanswered,” she posted on X. Kallas emphasized that a government willing to kill thousands of its own people is “working toward its own demise.” The IRGC has been a central force in Tehran’s suppression of mass protests, acting directly and through its vast network of paramilitary and security affiliates.

Israel welcomed the announcement without reservation. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar called it “important and historic,” crediting sustained Israeli diplomatic engagement with shifting European policy. “The number one factor in spreading terror and undermining regional stability has now been called by its name,” Sa’ar declared.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz echoed the sentiment, stating that a regime “that can remain in power only through terror has no legitimacy.” He emphasized that Europe stands firmly with the people of Iran.

Alongside the terror listing, the EU levied new sanctions against 15 Iranian officials and six organizations tied to human rights violations. The sanctions target key figures such as Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni and several IRGC commanders responsible for the violent suppression of protesters.

Iran responded with fury. Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi accused the EU of provoking regional conflict rather than seeking peace. In a scathing post, he claimed that while some nations work to avoid escalation, “none of them are European.” Araghchi condemned the EU’s decision as “blatant hypocrisy,” especially in contrast to what he described as inaction over Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

Iran’s military leadership joined the condemnation. In a statement issued by the General Staff of the Armed Forces, European leaders were accused of being manipulated by the U.S. and Israel. The declaration warned of “hazardous consequences” for Europe, including destabilized markets and energy disruptions.

Behind the diplomatic fury lies a stark reality: the human toll inside Iran. While the regime officially acknowledges around 3,000 deaths in recent crackdowns, independent observers estimate tens of thousands have been killed or imprisoned. The IRGC has played an outsized role in these operations, justifying the EU’s move not only as symbolic but also as a concrete act of accountability.

For Israel, the decision is a landmark victory in its long campaign to isolate the IRGC internationally. It is a clear signal that Europe now recognizes the threat the IRGC poses, not only to Iranians but to regional peace and global security. For Tehran, it marks a deepening confrontation with the West, where condemnation is now turning into coordinated action.

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