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EU Declares Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a Terrorist Group Amid Crackdown
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On January 29, the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council officially designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, marking a significant escalation in the EU’s response to Tehran’s domestic repression and military actions abroad.
The decision was announced by EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas.
In a statement shared on X, she emphasized that “repression cannot go unanswered,” adding that “any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise.”
Repression cannot go unanswered.
— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) January 29, 2026
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.
The same day, the EU Council adopted additional restrictive measures targeting human rights violations in Iran and Tehran’s continued military support for Russia’s war against Ukraine.
According to the Council’s press release, the latest sanctions list includes Iran’s Interior Minister and head of the Supreme National Security Council Eskandar Momeni, Prosecutor General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, and several IRGC commanders. The EU’s human rights sanctions regime now applies to 247 individuals and 50 entities.
Furthermore, the EU imposed sanctions on four individuals and six organizations involved in Iran’s drone and ballistic missile programs, under a special regime focused on curbing the country’s UAV development and proliferation.
The targeted individuals include businessmen, CEOs, and shareholders of private companies linked to Iran’s weapons production infrastructure. These additions bring the total to 24 individuals and 26 organizations under this framework.
Ukraine welcomed the move. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed support for the new measures and called for an even tougher 20th sanctions package against Russia.
I welcome EU Foreign Affairs Council decisions to strengthen sanctions against Iran for flagrant human rights violations and military support for Russian aggression; against Russia - for war, propaganda, and undermining international security; and against those responsible for… https://t.co/qTi7De7Y2y
— Andrii Sybiha 🇺🇦 (@andrii_sybiha) January 29, 2026
The new EU sanctions come in the wake of widespread anti-government protests that erupted across Iran in late 2025. Sparked by economic hardship and the rapid devaluation of the rial, the demonstrations began in Tehran and spread to regions previously seen as loyal to the regime.
Earlier, it was reported that Iran has received its first Mi-28NE Night Hunter attack helicopter from Russia, marking a key milestone in a 2023 procurement deal amid growing military pressure from the US.
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