The EU designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, and Ursula von der Leyen pledged rapid implementation after a violent crackdown.
The European Union (EU) moved Thursday to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, with Germany pledging to turn the decision into a legally binding listing as fast as possible.
The move also came alongside a new round of EU sanctions targeting Iranian officials and entities amid the violent crackdown on protests and mass killings that have swept across the country since Dec. 28.
Tehran’s military support for Russia was also included in the measures.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the designation and the sanctions package Thursday.
«I welcome the political agreement on new sanctions against the murderous Iranian regime», von der Leyen wrote in a post on X. «And on the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. This was long overdue.»
She added: «‘Terrorist’ is indeed how you call a regime that crushes its own people’s protests in blood. Europe stands with the people of Iran in their brave fight for freedom.»
Meanwhile, Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the EU would move quickly to implement the designation, calling it a strong political signal that reflected the scale of repression inside Iran.
