EU moves closer to listing Iran’s IRGC as a terror group. (Photo: X/@khamenei_ir)
The European Union is set to move closer to designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation after France announced its support for the proposal on Wednesday.
EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Thursday to approve a fresh round of sanctions in response to Iran’s violent crackdown on anti-government protests, which has left thousands dead and many more detained.
Confirming the shift in position, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said on X that France would back adding the IRGC to the EU’s terror list, a move that significantly boosts the likelihood of political approval within the bloc.
With France, Italy and Germany now on board, the decision is likely to be approved politically on Thursday, although it does need unanimity among the bloc’s 27 members.
Earlier on Wednesday, France had been hesitant to back the majority in the bloc, who have pushed to add the IRGC to the EU’s terrorist organisation list, joining the United States.
“The unbearable repression of the peaceful uprising of the Iranian people cannot go unanswered. The extraordinary courage they have shown in the face of the blind violence unleashed upon them cannot be in vain,” Barrot said.
The French presidency had earlier announced the decision.
Set up after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution to protect the Shi’ite clerical ruling system, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has great sway in the country, controlling swathes of the economy and armed forces, and was put in charge of Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programmes.
While some EU member states have previously pushed for the IRGC to be added to the EU’s terrorist list, others, led by France, have been more cautious.
They feared such a move could lead to a complete break in ties with Iran, impacting diplomatic missions, and also hurting negotiations to release European citizens held in Iranian prisons.
Paris has been especially worried about the fate of two of its citizens currently living at the embassy in Tehran after being released from prison last year.
Anti-government protests that swept across Iran since December have triggered the bloodiest crackdown by authorities since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, drawing international condemnation.
Other diplomats backing the move said the magnitude of the crackdown meant Europe had to send a very strong political signal given the IRGC‘s role in the clampdown, but also its activities overseas, which they said was tantamount to terrorist activity.
“If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck then it’s probably a duck and it’s good to call that out,” said one senior EU diplomat.
(With Reuters Inputs)
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
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