The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran has formally condemned the European Union’s decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. Iranian officials have labeled the move as “spite-driven” and a “major strategic mistake” that threatens to destabilize an already volatile region.
Official Government Response
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi addressed the designation on Thursday, accusing the 27-nation bloc of fanning the flames of regional conflict. The Minister noted that while international actors are working to prevent all-out war in the Middle East, the EU’s actions serve only to escalate tensions between Tehran and the West.
“Europe is busy fanning the flames,” Araghchi stated, adding that the EU is repeating the errors of the past by acting at the “behest of the United States.”
Iran’s Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the EU’s decision to blacklist the IRGC as a terrorist organization, calling the move illegal and unjustified.
Follow: https://t.co/mLGcUTS2ei pic.twitter.com/ycaKbZaAzM
— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) January 30, 2026
Key Points of Contention
- Military Status: Tehran maintains that the IRGC is a formal branch of the Iranian National Military. The General Staff of the Armed Forces issued a statement through the IRNA news agency, characterizing the EU’s decision as “unquestioning obedience” to the policies of the U.S. and Israel.
- Geopolitical Impact: Iranian leadership warned that the designation—alongside recent “snapback” UN sanctions—will have “destructive consequences” for future diplomatic engagement and regional security.
- Dispute Over Domestic Unrest: While the EU cited the crackdown on mass protests as the catalyst for the designation, Iranian authorities maintain that casualties during the unrest were largely caused by foreign-backed “rioters” and that security forces were targeted.
Sanctions and Restrictions
The EU’s move, described by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen as “long overdue,” includes visa bans and asset freezes on 21 state entities and high-ranking officials. Those targeted include the Interior Minister, the Prosecutor General, and various regional IRGC commanders.
🚨 European Union expels diplomats of the Islamic regime in Iran and takes steps to put the IRGC on the terrorist list. Let’s hope they move fast and that the UK follows ASAP. Full job not done yet. But strong message to the regime. #IranMassacre pic.twitter.com/XtMmVhQcK3
— Omid Djalili (@omid9) January 20, 2026
Closing Statement from the General Staff
The General Staff of the Armed Forces described the EU’s actions as “illogical” and “anti-human,” asserting that the IRGC remains the primary bulwark against genuine terrorism in the region and that the EU has compromised its own strategic interests by acting as a proxy for Iran’s adversaries.
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