The Council of the European Union has added Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC – SEPAH) to the EU list of terrorist organizations. Under the decision, the IRGC will be subject to restrictive measures within the EU’s counter-terrorism sanctions regime, including the freezing of funds and economic resources in member states and a ban on providing financial support. According to the official statement, 13 individuals and 23 groups and entities are currently subject to sanctions under this framework.
Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the decision as unlawful and announced reciprocal measures. Tehran declared that, based on the principle of reciprocity, it has designated the naval and air forces of EU member states as terrorist entities. The statement argued that the EU’s move contradicts the UN Charter and fundamental principles of international law.
Political analyst Ahmad Shahidov told ARB24 that listing the IRGC as a terrorist organization could provide grounds for considering it a “legitimate target” in the event of potential Western military operations against Iran in the future. According to Shahidov, Iran’s designation of EU military structures as terrorist organizations is largely political and symbolic in nature.
