Iran designates EU armies as ‘terrorist organizations’

Tehran has mirrored the bloc’s move after it slapped the same label on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps

The Iranian Parliament has designated the armed forces of EU member states as ‘terrorist organizations’, mirroring the bloc’s recent decision to blacklist the country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In December, mass protests erupted across the Islamic Republic over economic grievances, quickly descending into violent riots accompanied by political demands. Tehran accused the US and Israel of instigating the deadly street violence that has now largely subsided.

Speaking on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said that by designating the IRGC a terrorist organization, the EU was seeking to appease its “master,” the US, in a futile attempt to stop it from threatening the territorial integrity of its member states – an apparent reference to US President Donald Trump’s recent threats to annex Greenland.

In an X post on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused Brussels of “fanning the flames” of an all-out war in the region. The diplomat characterized the EU’s decision to blacklist the IRGC as “another major strategic mistake” and a “PR stunt.”

Read more

His comment followed the announcement by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas that “EU Foreign Ministers just took the decisive step of designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation” over Tehran’s handling of the recent riots.

Formal adoption of the decision is expected in the coming days.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also welcomed the move, as well as the “political agreement on new sanctions against” the Islamic Republic, targeting 15 individuals and six entities with asset freezes and travel bans, among other restrictions.

The IRGC is considered a terrorist organization by the US, Israel, Canada, Australia, Saudi Arabia, and Bahrain.

In recent weeks, President Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with military action, saying that he has sent a “massive” and “beautiful armada” to the region. However, he has indicated that Washington is still considering a diplomatic avenue as well.