Al-Fassel | 2026-02-09

In a pivotal move reshaping international relations, EU countries have designated the Iranian regime's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.

The EU's designation comes in direct response to the IRGC's central role in violently suppressing domestic protests and its extensive history of fostering regional instability.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, stated the decision targets dismantling the IRGC's networks in Europe.

She emphasized that these efforts also aim to disrupt the IRGC's financial and operational activities beyond European borders.

A response to brutal repression and regional terror

The primary catalyst for the decision was the IRGC's violent crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran.

Most recently, the corps' suppression of peaceful demonstrations in December and January resulted in the deaths of thousands of civilians, including women and children.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described the crackdown as "the most violent repression in Iran's modern history," emphasizing that "there can be no impunity for the crimes committed."

Similarly, Kalla Kallas remarked, "any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise."

Disrupting a global financial and logistical network

The designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization carries significant consequences for Iran.

The EU's designation entails travel bans, asset freezes and a prohibition on economic transactions with individuals and entities affiliated with the IRGC.

These measures aim to sever the financial and logistical networks that sustain the corps' operations both in Europe and globally.

For the Iranian regime, the EU's decision further amplifies its growing regional and international isolation.

The regime now faces tighter sanctions and intensified diplomatic pressure, particularly concerning its role in proliferating terrorism and supporting terrorist groups.

Countries that maintain ties with or collaborate with the IRGC risk being subjected to international sanctions as well.

The EU's stance aligns closely with those of international allies, including the United States, Canada and Australia.

This unified front significantly escalates international pressure and underscores the severe repercussions for states or entities cooperating with the IRGC.

Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, denounced the decision, calling it a "major strategic mistake."

Nevertheless, the EU's move marks a critical milestone in addressing the IRGC's actions within and beyond Iran's borders.

By coupling the terrorist designation with comprehensive sanctions, the EU signals its commitment to human rights and global security.

This decision not only condemns the IRGC's violent practices but also sends a powerful message to regimes sponsoring terrorism: their actions will not go unchallenged.