European Union Sanctions Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Over Human Rights Abuses
The European Union has formally designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, amid mounting pressure from human rights groups over the regime's brutal suppression of protests. The move follows years of divisions within the bloc on how to address the issue.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the decision as "not merely symbolic" but carrying significant legal consequences for those involved, including asset freezes and prohibitions on financial or material support.
The listing comes after reports estimated that more than 30,000 people may have been killed in Iran's recent wave of repression, with many human rights groups accusing the regime of a "revenge" campaign targeting doctors and healthcare workers who treated injured protesters.
Critics of the designation say it could damage diplomatic channels and harm interests of EU citizens in Iran. However, France has now joined other member states that support the move, citing "unbearable repression" of peaceful protests.
Iran's top diplomat called the decision a "major strategic mistake," claiming that European powers were instead trying to fan the flames of war in the region.
Established following the 1979 Islamic revolution, the IRGC is an elite paramilitary force loyal to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It has been listed as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the US and Canada.
The European Union has formally designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, amid mounting pressure from human rights groups over the regime's brutal suppression of protests. The move follows years of divisions within the bloc on how to address the issue.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas described the decision as "not merely symbolic" but carrying significant legal consequences for those involved, including asset freezes and prohibitions on financial or material support.
The listing comes after reports estimated that more than 30,000 people may have been killed in Iran's recent wave of repression, with many human rights groups accusing the regime of a "revenge" campaign targeting doctors and healthcare workers who treated injured protesters.
Critics of the designation say it could damage diplomatic channels and harm interests of EU citizens in Iran. However, France has now joined other member states that support the move, citing "unbearable repression" of peaceful protests.
Iran's top diplomat called the decision a "major strategic mistake," claiming that European powers were instead trying to fan the flames of war in the region.
Established following the 1979 Islamic revolution, the IRGC is an elite paramilitary force loyal to Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It has been listed as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the US and Canada.
. I mean, 30k+ people dead? that's just insane. I'm not surprised though, all these reports of doctors being targeted for treating protesters... it's like they're trying to silence dissent or something.
France is finally joining the party too, that's good to see. I hope this designation leads to some real change in iran, not just more empty words from politicians.
no way. We need to hold them accountable for their actions.
- they're calling out those who are part of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps for all the human rights abuses that have been going on in the country. It's crazy to think that over 30k people might have lost their lives in these protests, and it's even more devastating when you consider that doctors and healthcare workers were targeted too 
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and whats up with these asset freezes? that's not gonna stop the irgc from being brutal, right? 
The EU's got to think about how this is gonna affect them more than just Iran, you know?
But at the same time, how can we ignore the fact that they're basically torturing and killing people who are trying to protest peacefully? It's like... 
I don't know, does it make sense for the EU to be all "oh no, we're gonna hurt our citizens in Iran" when the real victims are those poor people on the ground?
. but on the other hand, aren't we kinda already doing that by not talking to them and all? 
Listing entire country's economy as terrorist funding source? 
That's just not how you hold dictators accountable. Iran's got a bad rep for sure but this is extreme. We should be supporting democratic movements in the region, not punishing everyone associated with the government 
, all those human rights abuses are just unacceptable. 30k+ people killed in protest? that's insane 
. it's not like Iran was doing this just to Iran, but also the whole world knows what's going on there 
, diplomatic relations are already so complicated with countries that support them and those who don't 
. i guess this move is a good thing, even if it means some collateral damage 
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. something needs to change in Iran, ASAP 
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this EU thingy finally took action against those super bad people in iran i mean 30k+ dead is insane what kinda "revenge" campaign targets doctors & healthcare workers who helped injured protesters? 
. And honestly, 30k+ people killed in protests is just horrific... can't believe no one's being held accountable