EU labels Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist group

The European Union has formally designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.

“The IRGC will also be subject to restrictive measures under the EU counterterrorism sanctions regime,” a press release published on Thursday said.

“This includes the freezing of its funds and other financial assets or economic resources in EU member states, and the prohibition for EU operators to make funds and economic resources available to the group.”

The moves follows a political agreement reached by EU foreign ministers in January.

The IRGC was previously sanctioned by the EU for human rights violations.

EU faced pressure to move ahead

With some EU ministers suggesting that up to 30,000 people could have been killed in the violent crackdown on demonstrations that have swept Iran, pressure had mounted on the EU to move ahead with the designation.

The move became possible after France lifted its long-standing opposition to the listing.

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul welcomed the “overdue” decision in a statement published after the political agreement was reached among EU ministers in January.

The listing as a terrorist organization “was long overdue,” said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen at the time.