Iran Declares EU Countries’ Armed Forces ‘Terrorist Organizations’

Iran has labeled the armed forces of European Union member states as “terrorist organizations” in retaliation for the EU’s decision to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group.

Reuters reported on this.

On Thursday, January 29, the European Union took a significant step in reshaping its approach toward Iran’s leadership by officially declaring the IRGC a terrorist organization.

The EU has now placed the IRGC in the same category as groups such as al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, and Hamas.

Meanwhile, the European Union announced new sanctions against 15 Iranian officials and six organizations involved in suppressing protests and committing human rights violations.

The sanctions, in particular, include asset freezes and travel bans to European Union countries.

The decision was taken after the IRGC was implicated in the bloodiest crackdown on protests in the Islamic Republic since its founding in 1979.

“By attempting to strike at the Revolutionary Guard, Europeans have in fact harmed themselves and once again made a decision that runs counter to the interests of their own peoples, blindly submitting to the Americans,” said Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

According to him, under Article 7 of the law on countermeasures against the designation of the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, the armed forces of European countries are considered terrorist groups.

Ghalibaf also said that the parliamentary commission on national security will consider the expulsion of military attachés from EU countries and will monitor further developments jointly with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

After his speech, lawmakers chanted: “Death to America, shame on Europe!”

On Sunday, the Revolutionary Guard released a statement saying that the EU’s decision complicates “the path toward constructive engagement and cooperation,” while at the same time reinforcing “confrontational approaches.”

IRGC

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is an elite military and political force of Iran, established in 1979 after the Islamic Revolution. Its primary mission is to preserve the Islamic regime, protect the ideology of the revolution, and counter both internal and external threats.

The IRGC reports directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader and operates alongside the regular armed forces, while possessing significantly broader powers.

Structurally, the IRGC includes Ground Forces, Aerospace Forces, and Naval Forces, as well as the Basij unit—a mass paramilitary organization used for internal control, suppression of protests, and population mobilization.

A separate and prominent role is played by the Quds Force, a special operations unit responsible for activities outside Iran, including support for allied groups in the Middle East.

The IRGC plays a key role in Iran’s foreign policy, serving as an instrument for expanding Tehran’s influence in the region.

The Corps supports and coordinates the activities of groups such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, Shiite militias in Iraq, the forces of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria, and the Houthis in Yemen.

It is precisely because of these ties that the IRGC is often accused of destabilizing the region and waging proxy wars.

Beyond its military role, the IRGC wields significant economic influence. Companies under its control operate in the energy, construction, transportation, telecommunications, and defense industries.