EU agrees to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist group

The European Union has achieved the necessary unanimity to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, a highly symbolic rebuke in response to the Islamic Republic’s violent crackdown on street protesters.

The political decision was taken on Thursday during a meeting of foreign affairs ministers in Brussels. Formal adoption of the blacklisting is expected in the coming days.

The designation will introduce an asset freeze, a prohibition on providing funds, and a travel ban on all standing members of the IRGC, many of whom are already subject to these very restrictions under the EU’s regular sanctions regime.

“Repression cannot go unanswered,” said High Representative Kaja Kallas. “Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise.”

Read more: Euronews