Ziggy Ojiegbe

The 27 member European Union has designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, citing Tehran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests.

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EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Thursday that the decision was agreed unanimously by the bloc’s foreign ministers. “Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working towards its own demise,” she said in a social media post.

Kallas added that the designation places the IRGC “on the same footing as al-Qaeda, Hamas and Daesh,” using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State. “If you act as a terrorist, you should also be treated as a terrorist,” she said.

Alongside the listing, the EU imposed sanctions on 15 Iranian officials, including senior IRGC commanders, as well as six Iranian organizations, some of which are involved in online surveillance. The sanctions include asset freezes and travel bans.

Activists say at least 6,373 people have been killed in the crackdown, which followed protests sparked by economic hardship and later broadened into a challenge to Iran’s theocratic system. Iran’s government has acknowledged 3,117 deaths, a figure widely disputed by rights groups.

The measures are largely symbolic but add to mounting international pressure on Tehran. Other countries, including the United States and Canada, have already designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization.

France had initially opposed the move, citing concerns for French citizens detained in Iran and for diplomatic missions, but later backed the designation. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said there could be “no impunity for the crimes committed” against Iranian protesters.

Analysts described the decision as a turning point in EU policy. Kristina Kausch of the German Marshall Fund said the move signals that dialogue with Iran has failed and that the bloc is now prioritizing isolation and containment, though it has stopped short of cutting diplomatic ties.

The designation could have practical consequences, as the IRGC holds extensive business interests across Iran and may have assets in Europe subject to seizure.

Tensions remain high in the region. Iran warned on Thursday that it would conduct live-fire naval drills next week in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for roughly 20% of global oil flows. Iranian officials have also warned of possible pre-emptive strikes or broader regional retaliation if attacked.

Meanwhile, Iran’s currency fell to a record low of 1.6 million rials to the US dollar, underscoring the economic strain facing the country amid sanctions and unrest.

The IRGC, established after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, operates alongside the regular armed forces and has grown into a powerful political, military and economic actor. Its Basij force is widely believed to have played a central role in suppressing the protests, with videos showing security forces shooting and beating demonstrators.

Human rights groups say more than 42,000 people have been arrested since the unrest began. Independent verification remains difficult due to prolonged internet blackouts imposed by Iranian authorities.