The European Union has formally added Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its terrorist list, following a political agreement reached by the Foreign Affairs Council on January 29.
The decision means the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will now be subject to restrictive measures under the EU’s counterterrorism sanctions regime.
Under the listing, the IRGC’s funds and other financial assets within EU member states will be frozen. EU operators are also prohibited from making funds or economic resources available to the group.
As a result of the move, a total of 13 individuals and 23 groups and entities are now subject to sanctions under the EU’s so-called terrorist list.
Separate sanctions framework
The EU terrorist list is distinct from the bloc’s regime implementing United Nations Security Council resolutions targeting extremist organisations such as Al-Qaeda and Islamic State.
Brussels can also impose autonomous restrictive measures against ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaeda affiliates, as well as against those who support or enable violent actions by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The addition of the IRGC marks a significant escalation in EU-Iran relations, expanding the bloc’s use of counterterrorism sanctions beyond non-state militant groups to include a state-linked military force.
Countries designating IRGC as a terrorist organisation
A growing number of countries and regional bodies have formally designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in its entirety as a terrorist organisation, reflecting mounting international pressure on Tehran.
States recognising the IRGC as a whole
The following countries have listed the entire IRGC as a terrorist organisation:
United States, Australia, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Paraguay, Ecuador, European Union, Ukraine, European Union Member States
With the EU’s formal designation, all 27 member states apply the measure:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden
Notably, Sweden had previously recognised the IRGC before the EU-wide designation.
Countries designating only the Quds Force
Some states have designated only the IRGC’s external operations branch, the Quds Force, rather than the entire corps:
Israel, Argentina
