Live - EU likely to list Iran’s Guards as terrorist group, foreign policy chief says

Summary

There is a growing momentum within the EU to list Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group amid concerns over Iran’s regional activities, support for armed groups, and domestic repression.
Several EU member states have previously pushed for the designation, though legal and political hurdles have slowed the process. Any formal move would require agreement among the bloc’s 27 members.
Iran has repeatedly warned that such a step would damage relations with Europe and has threatened retaliatory measures if the Guards are designated.
Spain and France have joined a growing chorus of EU countries backing the move to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.
The United States designated IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in April 2019, a move Washington said covered the IRGC in its entirety, including the Quds Force. Canada later listed the IRGC as a terrorist entity in June 2024.
Australia has not used the same “terrorist entity” label for the IRGC, but in November 2025 it formally listed the IRGC as a state sponsor of terrorism under a new framework. The IRGC is also designated as a terrorist organization in Ecuador, Paraguay and Sweden.
In the Middle East, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization.

Jan 29, 2026, 13:42 GMT

Iranian individuals, firms sanctioned over military support to Russia’s war in Ukraine

The European Union on Thursday imposed new sanctions on four Iranian individuals and six entities over Tehran’s military support to Russia’s war in Ukraine, targeting those involved in Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programmes, according to an implementing regulation published in the EU’s Official Journal.

Those listed include Amir Radfar, director of the Shahid Bagheri Industrial Group linked to Iran’s ballistic missile production, and Hossein Bakshayesh, head of Sahara Thunder, a company the EU said acts as a front for Iran’s defence ministry and supplies drones and components to Russia.

Several companies were sanctioned for facilitating the transfer of Iranian-made UAVs, missile technology and components to Moscow, including Sahara Thunder, Fanavaran Sanat Ertebatat Company, Khojir Missile Development and Production, and shipping and logistics firms accused of supporting weapons deliveries.

The EU said Iran-produced drones and missiles have been used by Russia in attacks on civilians and infrastructure in Ukraine, describing the transfers as a violation of international law and a threat to European security. The measures include asset freezes and travel bans and took effect immediately upon publication on Thursday.

Jan 29, 2026, 13:36 GMT

EU sanctions senior Iranian officials, security forces over protest crackdown

The European Union on Thursday imposed new human rights sanctions on 15 Iranian individuals and six entities, citing their roles in the violent suppression of nationwide protests, arbitrary detentions, executions and internet repression.

Those listed include Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, Prosecutor General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad, senior Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commanders, police chiefs, judges of Iran’s revolutionary courts and cyber officials involved in censorship and surveillance, according to the regulation published in the EU’s Official Journal.

The EU said those sanctioned were responsible for “serious human rights violations,” including the killing of protesters, torture, mass arrests, death sentences for demonstrators and systematic restrictions on access to information.

Entities targeted include Iran’s Audio-Visual Media Regulatory Authority (SATRA), the Working Group for Determining Instances of Criminal Content, and several IRGC-linked cyber and technology organizations accused of enforcing internet shutdowns, censorship, disinformation campaigns and online surveillance.

The measures were adopted under the EU’s human rights sanctions regime and include asset freezes and travel bans. They entered into force immediately upon publication on Thursday.

Jan 29, 2026, 11:57 GMT

Germany urges EU to list IRGC, citing torture and killings

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Germany strongly supports listing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under EU terrorism sanctions and expressed confidence the bloc would reach a decision on Thursday.

“The federal government has strongly advocated for the Revolutionary Guard Corps to be listed,” Wadephul told reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of EU foreign ministers. “I am very confident that we will reach a joint conclusion on this matter today.”

He said the move was needed in response to Iran’s treatment of its citizens. “The way people have been beaten, tortured, thrown into prison and even shot or hanged is so dramatic that there must be a clear response from the European Union,” he said.

Wadephul also said Germany wanted an agreement with Iran on its missile program and nuclear activities. “Nobody needs another conflict,” he said, adding that Tehran must understand it could not continue as before and urging use of what he called a remaining window for a deal.

Jan 29, 2026, 11:05 GMT

Finland backs listing IRGC as terrorist group

Finland said it supports adding Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to the European Union’s list of terrorist organizations, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said.

“Iran’s authorities are responsible for killing thousands of their own citizens and brutally repressing society,” Valtonen wrote in a post on X. “They do not deserve sympathy, but must be held accountable for their actions.”

Valtonen said Finland would inform EU partners of its position at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday, adding that Iranians had shown courage and determination in demanding a free and prosperous future.

Jan 29, 2026, 10:40 GMT

EU ministers approve new Iran sanctions over protest crackdown

European Union foreign ministers approved new sanctions on Iran on Thursday, targeting individuals and entities linked to a violent crackdown on protesters and Tehran’s support for Russia, Reuters reported.

The ministers are also expected to reach a political agreement to add Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to the EU list of terrorist organizations, a move that would mark a symbolic shift in the bloc’s approach to Iran’s leadership.

Jan 29, 2026, 10:01 GMT

France backs listing Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as EU terrorist group

France said on Thursday it supports adding Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to the European Union’s list of terrorist organizations, as EU foreign ministers met in Brussels to approve new sanctions over Tehran’s crackdown on protests.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Paris had decided to back the move after previously taking a more cautious position.

“The extraordinary courage of the Iranian women and men who have been targeted by this violence cannot be in vain. That is why we will today impose European sanctions against those responsible for this repression: government officials, prosecutors, police unit chiefs, members of the Revolutionary Guard Corps, and those responsible for blocking the internet,” Barrot told reporters on arrival at the meeting.

He said the EU would impose new sanctions targeting those responsible for the repression, including government officials, prosecutors, police commanders, members of the Revolutionary Guard, and officials involved in blocking internet access.

Jan 29, 2026, 09:45 GMT

Tehran crackdown crossed the line for EU, Dutch foreign minister says

Dutch Foreign Minister David van Weel said ahead of a gathering of European Union foreign ministers on Thursday that recent footage from Tehran showing a violent crackdown had crossed a major threshold for EU countries.

Van Weel said videos documenting the repression had crossed “a big line” for EU countries.

Jan 29, 2026, 07:38 GMT

EU foreign policy chief signals move to proscribe Iran’s IRGC

The European Union is likely to add Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to its list of terrorist organizations, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday, ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

Speaking before the foreign affairs council, Kallas said the EU was preparing additional sanctions against Iran and expected the designation of the Revolutionary Guard to follow.

“We are putting new sanctions on Iran and I also expect we will list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist list,” she said.

Jan 28, 2026, 20:08 GMT

EU parliament chief urges terrorist listing of IRGC

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola urged the European Union to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation during its Thursday meeting, saying Europe has a responsibility to act against repression in Iran.

“This week, Europe has a historic opportunity, and duty, to finally designate the Iranian regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation,” Metsola said in a post on X.

"Europe has a responsibility to act. The millions of Iranians living under oppression look to us for moral clarity and leadership. The thousands of people murdered on the streets deserve a semblance of justice," she added.

Jan 28, 2026, 18:45 GMT

All 27 EU member states on board with IRGC terror listing - WSJ

All 27 European Union member states are now on board with designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, The Wall Street Journal's Laurence Norman said, citing sources, on the eve of a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.

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