Council to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation

EU foreign ministers unanimously agreed to add Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to the EU’s list of terrorist organizations. It is a response to the Iranian government’s crackdown on recent demonstrations, which, according to some sources, have claimed thousands of lives. Council also imposed restrictive measures on additional 15 persons and six entities allegedly responsible for human rights violations in Iran.

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite branch of Iran’s armed forces, has been added to the EU’s list of terrorist organizations alongside Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and the Islamic State. “Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise,” wrote Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on X.

A long-sought agreement

The European Union has been considering adding the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps to its list of terrorist organizations for some time. However, until recently there was no consensus among member states, and unanimous approval was required. Italy, France, and Spain were particularly opposed, but in the end, agreement was reached. Formal legal confirmation of the move is expected in the coming days.

Repression cannot go unanswered.

EU Foreign Ministers just took the decisive step of designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation.

Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) January 29, 2026

Council also decided to impose restrictive measures on fifteen persons and six entities. According to the Council, these are responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. The sanctioned persons include Eskandar Momeni, Iran’s Minister of the Interior and Head of the National Security Council, and Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, the Prosecutor General.

Iran’s support to Russia also targeted

Tehran keeps supporting Russia’s war of aggression, especially through the supply of drones and missiles. That is why Council also imposed restrictive measures on four persons and six entities under the EU dedicated sanctions regime, with a specific focus on the Iranian state-sponsored programme for the development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles.

The individuals sanctioned include businessmen, CEOs and shareholders of private companies who are involved also in the development and production of Iran’s ballistic missiles. Today’s decision brings the total number of those sanctioned under this regime to 24 individuals and 26 entities. The sanctions regime was last extended until 27 July 2026.