Iranian opposition figures had been calling for this for years – now it has happened: the European Union (EU) has added the Islamic Revolutionary Guards to its list of terrorist organisations. This was announced by EU Foreign Affairs Representative Kaja Kallas on X. In addition, EU foreign ministers imposed sanctions on prominent representatives of the mullah regime in Iran. The regime responded with sharp criticism.
The debate over whether to classify the Revolutionary Guards, founded in 1979, as a terrorist organisation has been going on for three years. Now, the loyal troops of the spiritual leadership, with their great military and economic power, have the same status as Al-Qaeda, for example. The trigger for the current decision was the immeasurable brutality with which the Revolutionary Guards had acted against their own population. They had ‘blood on their hands,’ said German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Brussels. The Revolutionary Guards are estimated to have between 150,000 and 190,000 members.
No entry into the EU and frozen assets
EU foreign ministers had already imposed sanctions. They apply to more than two dozen Iranians, including the interior minister, the attorney general and the head of the security police. They are accused of being responsible for the brutal suppression of protests at the end of last year and the beginning of this year. Those sanctioned are no longer allowed to enter the EU and can no longer access their assets in the EU. Similar sanctions have been in place against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for more than ten years.
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