The European Union has officially added Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its list of terrorist organisations. The decision comes after weeks of deadly crackdowns on protesters across Iran.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the move was necessary and unavoidable. “Repression cannot go unanswered,” she said, adding that the IRGC would now be treated the same as groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Iran reacted strongly to the decision. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi called it a political stunt and warned it was a “serious strategic mistake.”

Protests and deadly crackdown

Human rights groups say thousands of people were killed during protests in December and January. Security forces, including the IRGC, were accused of using extreme force against demonstrators.

Speaking in Brussels, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described the situation as the most violent repression in Iran’s modern history. He said there should be no immunity for those responsible.

France had earlier been cautious about blacklisting the IRGC, fearing it could damage diplomatic relations. However, it shifted its position this week and backed the move, led by Italy.

Despite the decision, EU officials said diplomatic channels with Iran would remain open.

New sanctions announced

Along with the terrorist listing, the EU imposed new sanctions on six organisations and 15 individuals in Iran. Those named include the interior minister, the prosecutor general and a senior judge.

The EU said they were directly involved in violent crackdowns, mass arrests and human rights abuses. Groups on the EU’s terrorist list face strict penalties. These include travel bans, frozen assets, and limits on financial support.

Who are the Revolutionary Guards?

The IRGC was created shortly after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution. Its role was to protect the country’s Islamic system.

Today, it is Iran’s most powerful armed force. It has an estimated 190,000 active members and operates across land, air, and sea.

The group also controls the Basij Resistance Force, which has been widely used to suppress protests inside Iran. Outside the country, the IRGC supports allied groups through funding, weapons, and military advice.

The United States, Canada, and Australia already classify the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. The UK has not taken that step so far.

Rising global tensions

The EU’s move comes at a time of growing tension between Iran and the United States.

US President Donald Trump recently said a large naval force, led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, was moving toward the region. He warned that time was running out for Iran to negotiate a new nuclear deal.

Trump later said he hoped to avoid military action and preferred talks. Iran responded by saying its forces were fully prepared to respond to any attack. Iranian officials accused Europe of escalating tensions instead of helping prevent a wider conflict.

Conflicting death tolls

Assessing the scale of the violence has been difficult due to internet shutdowns inside Iran. A US-based rights group claims over 6,300 people were killed. Another organisation says the number could exceed 25,000.

Iranian authorities dispute these figures. They say most of the dead were security personnel or civilians caught in unrest caused by “rioters.” International media outlets are largely barred from reporting inside Iran. However, verified videos show security forces firing live ammunition at crowds.