Iran’s Foreign Ministry condemned the European Union’s terrorist designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC), calling the decision “illegal, unjustified and hypocritical” and an action directed against the entire Iranian nation.
EU foreign ministers on Thursday announced their agreement to place the IRGC on the bloc’s so-called terrorist list citing alleged “human rights violations,”. The move came after some EU member states, led by France, which had previously opposed such a step, declared their support for the designation. Recent unrest in Iran, which resulted in fatalities, served as the catalyst for the European decision, despite Iranian officials’ insistence on the involvement of foreign-backed elements.
In response, the Foreign Ministry statement described the IRGC as an integral part of Iran’s official armed forces under the country’s constitution, stressing its role in safeguarding Iran’s sovereignty and national security, preserving regional stability, and combating terrorism.
“Any attempt to apply the terrorist label to a sovereign and official institution constitutes a dangerous precedent, a flagrant violation of the principle of the rule of law in international relations, and a clear disregard for the fundamental principles of international law, including respect for state sovereignty and the prohibition of interference in the internal affairs of countries,” the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry said responsibility for the political, legal, and security consequences of such an “ill-considered” decision rests with European policymakers, particularly its architects and proponents.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also weighed in with a post on X, saying Europe was fanning the flames of crisis. He said the bloc had committed yet another major strategic mistake.
“Europe’s PR stunt mainly seeks to cloak that it is an actor in severe decline,” he wrote.
Araghchi also warned that, given Europe would undoubtedly be severely affected by a full-scale war in the region, including a sharp surge in energy prices, the EU’s current stance would seriously harm its own interests.
Separately, Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff said in a statement that the EU’s “illogical, irresponsible and spite-driven” move had undoubtedly been taken in blind obedience to what it called the hegemonic and inhumane policies of the United States and Israel, reflecting the depth of hostility and animosity harbored by the bloc’s leaders toward the Iranian nation, its armed forces, and the country’s security and independence.
“This accusation against the IRGC is certainly in line with efforts to support, strengthen, expand, and legitimizing terrorism in the world and the region,” the statement added.
