EU Finally Names Iran’s IRGC as Terror Org Ahead of Possible U.S. Strikes.

WHAT HAPPENED: The European Union (EU) has designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization in response to its role in a violent crackdown on protesters.

WHO WAS INVOLVED: The IRGC, EU foreign ministers, Kaja Kallas, Jean-Noel Barrot, and Iranian authorities.

WHEN & WHERE: The decision was announced in Brussels on January 29, 2026; mass demonstrations occurred in Iran in December and January.

KEY QUOTE: “Repression cannot go unanswered.” – Kaja Kallas

IMPACT: The IRGC will face EU sanctions, including travel bans and asset freezes; however, diplomatic channels with Iran are expected to remain open even as potential U.S. military strikes against Iran loom.

European Union (EU) foreign ministers agreed Thursday in Brussels to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, citing its role in the violent suppression of recent anti-government protests. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the move was intended to send a clear signal, declaring, “Repression cannot go unanswered.”

The designation comes amid a major buildup of United States military assets in the Middle East and possible strikes against the Iranian regime and IRGC targets in the coming days or weeks. Earlier this week, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group, consisting of the carrier and three guided-missile destroyers, entered the Central Command region of the Middle East, which includes Iran.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump has warned Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, that the repression of demonstrators must end or the U.S. would respond with force. The National Pulse reported on Tuesday that President Trump described the situation regarding Iran as being “in flux,” but suggested that Iran’s ruling mullahs are looking to cut a deal. “They want to make a deal. I know so. They called on numerous occasions. They want to talk,” Trump said.

The EU’s decision to designate the IRGC as a terrorist group was spearheaded by Italy and marked a shift by France, which had previously been reluctant to support the designation. The designation places the IRGC on the EU’s terrorist list alongside groups such as al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, triggering measures including asset freezes and travel bans. Kallas said that despite the move, diplomatic channels with Tehran would remain open.

With this decision, the EU has finally aligned itself with the United States, Canada, and Australia, all of which have already labeled the IRGC a terrorist group. The United Kingdom (UK) has not yet taken the same step.

Photo by the Fars Media Corporation.

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