Kallas: Iran Revolutionary Guard Designated a Terrorist Organization

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on Thursday that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, IRGC) has been recognized as a terrorist organization by the decision of the EU foreign ministers. Repression cannot remain unanswered, she emphasized.

This is the Community's reaction to the brutal repression of the Iranian regime against participants of anti-government protests.

“Any regime that kills thousands of its citizens is heading towards its own collapse,” Kallas, who chairs the ministerial meeting in Brussels on Thursday, wrote on the platform.

On Thursday, foreign ministers also expanded the EU's “blacklist” to include people and entities involved in the repression of demonstrators. This involves freezing assets stored in the EU, a ban on conducting business activity, and – in the case of persons – a ban on entering the territory of the EU. Sanctions were also previously imposed on Iran for supporting Russia in the war in Ukraine.

Demonstrations in Iran broke out in the last days of December against the background of economic problems, especially the large decline in the value of the local currency, the rial. Mass demonstrations quickly took on a political character and spread to all provinces of the country. The authorities suppressed them brutally; According to various sources, the number of dead ranges from several thousand to even 36.5 thousand. people.

In addition to the Revolutionary Guard, the EU's list of terrorist organizations also includes, among others: Al-Qaeda, Islamic State, Hamas and the armed arm of Hezbollah.

So far, the only Iranian entity recognized as terrorist by the EU was the Internal Security Directorate in the Ministry of Intelligence and Security.

Recognition by the EU as a terrorist organization not only involves the freezing of assets and a ban on entry to the EU, but also means that such an organization is subject to police and judicial cooperation of Member States in criminal matters.

The Revolutionary Guard is the largest military force in Iran. It was created after the Islamic Revolution in this country in 1979 by Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini to combat opponents of the theocratic republic. The IRGC has its own land forces, navy and air and space forces. It controls the coercive apparatus, as well as the country's key strategic programs, including nuclear and missile programs, and numerous sectors of the economy.

From Brussels Magdalena Cedro (PAP)

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