Archive · 30 Jan 2026
EU to Designate Iran's Revolutionary Guards as Terrorists
The European Union is likely to put Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) on its list of terrorist groups.
This decision is expected to be made at a meeting of EU foreign ministers.
The IRGC is a powerful military group in Iran that has been involved in suppressing protests and supporting Russia.
France and other countries support this move.
The EU is also planning to punish some people and groups connected to the IRGC by freezing their assets and not letting them visit Europe.
Iran has warned that this could lead to bad consequences.
There have been many protests in Iran, and many people have been killed.
The exact number of deaths is not clear, but it is a lot.
The IRGC is also involved in many parts of Iran's economy and politics.
The EU is set to list Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, aligning it with groups like al-Qaeda and Hamas.
The decision comes amid the IRGC's role in the deadly crackdown on protests in Iran and its support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
France, initially hesitant, has signaled support for the move, with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot stating that the repression in Iran cannot go unanswered.
The IRGC is a powerful branch of Iran's military, controlling major sectors of the Iranian economy and acting as a primary pillar of its political and economic structure.
The EU is also expected to impose asset freezes and visa bans on 21 individuals and entities linked to the IRGC.
- Who
- European Union, Iran's Revolutionary Guards (IRGC), EU foreign ministers
- What
- Listing IRGC as a terrorist organization in the EU
- When
- Meeting on Thursday (EU foreign ministers), EU foreign policy chief's announcement on Thursday
- Where
- Brussels, Belgium
- Why
- IRGC's role in deadly crackdown on protests in Iran and support for Russia
- Organization
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
- Proposed by
- Italy
- Supported by
- France, EU foreign policy chief Kallas
- Meeting Location
- Brussels
- Expected Actions
- Asset freezes and visa bans on 21 individuals and entities
- Iran's Warning
- Destructive consequences
- IRGC's Role
- Ideological arm of Tehran's military, controls major sectors of Iranian economy
- Protest Death Toll
- Over 3,000 (Iran's official count), potentially tens of thousands (rights groups)
- IRGC Membership
- 150,000 to 200,000
- Basij Membership
- 600,000 to 900,000
- IRGC Annual Budget
- $6-9 billion (40% of Iran's official military budget)
Sources
France Backs EU Terror Listing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards
EU Set To Add Iran's Guards To Terror List After France U-turn
EU’s Kallas: We expect to list Iran’s revolutionary guards as a terrorist organization
EU ministers approve new Iran sanctions in response to crackdown
EU ministers approve new Iran sanctions after Tehran’s crackdown on protests, EU diplomats say
EU ministers approve new Iran sanctions after Tehran’s crackdown on protests
Who Are Iran's Revolutionary Guards? Feared 'Pasdaran' Set For EU Terror Tag
EU To List Iran's Revolutionary Guards As Terror Group With Al Qaeda, Hamas
EU sanctions Iran’s interior minister and prosecutor general
EU to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as terrorist organisation, Kallas says
European Union designates Iran’s IRGC as terrorist organisation, citing mass killings of civilians
EU designates Iran’s Revolutionary Guards a terrorist organisation in policy shift
European Union lists Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard as terrorist organisation
EU lists Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as terrorist group after deadly protest crackdown
EU Designates Iran's Revolutionary Guard As 'Terrorist Organisation'
"Major Strategic Mistake": Iran Blasts EU After Guards' Terror Designation
'Repression Can't Go Unanswered': EU Designates Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps As Terrorist Organisation