EU considering listing Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as terror group, says Berlin

As Tehran continues to crack down on demonstrations, German foreign minister says European Union ‘examining how we can list’ IRGC as terror organization

By AFP and ToI Staff 30 October 2022, 11:49 pm 1 Edit

Iranians protest the death of Mahsa Amini in Tehran, October 27, 2022. (This photo was taken by an individual not employed by The Associated Press and obtained by the AP outside Iran)

BERLIN, Germany — The European Union and Germany are examining whether to list Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a “terrorist organization,” the German foreign minister said Sunday.

The Islamic Republic has been rocked by protests since the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, following her arrest in Tehran for alleged breach of the country’s dress rules for women. The demonstrations are now in their seventh week.

Asked what further actions Berlin and the EU planned, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told broadcaster ARD: “As I made clear last week, we will launch a further sanctions package. We are also examining how we can list the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.”

Her comments came as protesters in Iran rallied again Sunday, defying an order from the Revolutionary Guards to stop the demonstrations.

The Iranian demand that the White House undo the decision to place the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps on the US-designated terrorist list was seen as a key reason that the most recent round of talks in Vienna to resurrect the Iran nuclear deal came to yet another halt.

US President Joe Biden has been adamant in refusing to acquiesce to the demand, and Israel has been outspoken in its opposition to such a move.