Europe, the IRGC, and the dangerous game of "political terrorism"

Tehran's nervous reactions to the IRGC being placed on the European Union's terrorist list revealed a political impasse and a crisis of legitimacy.

The European Union officially designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist" organization on Thursday, January 29, 2026, an unprecedented decision that has sparked a wave of harsh and threatening reactions from the Islamic Republic's authorities.

The European Union, which reached a definitive decision after weeks of debate over the role of the IRGC in suppressing domestic protests in Iran, saw the move as part of a broader package of sanctions against officials and entities accused of human rights abuses. The decision includes financial sanctions, travel bans, and the listing of 247 individuals and 50 entities linked to the IRGC and Iranian security forces.

"Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is on the path to its own downfall," said European Union foreign policy chief Kaya Kallas in a statement, adding that the decision sends a clear message to those wielding the tools of repression.

In an official response, Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei, the head of Iran's judiciary, described the decision as a "hostile act" and warned: "The European Union will see the consequences and consequences of this stupidity." He added: "Declaring an official institution of a United Nations member state as terrorist is in conflict with the rules of international law."

In addition to the Aegean reaction, the reactions of other officials at the military and political levels of the Islamic Republic have also been severe:

• Ali Shamkhani, a member of the National Defense Council, wrote on the social network X: "The West does not define terrorism, it consumes it," claiming that the West's support for wars and repressive regimes indicates the transformation of the concept of terrorism.
• The Iranian Ministry of Defense called Europe's decision a "vengeful, hasty, and desperate reaction" and, while rejecting any criminalization of the IRGC, announced that no part of the official government structure could be considered terrorist.
• The Islamic Propaganda Coordination Council and the Islamic Republic Army also issued statements describing this action as "without legal basis" and a sign of Europe's deep hostility towards Iran.

Iranian domestic news agencies, citing informed sources, have reported several operational options against the European Union, including handing over the protection of European diplomatic centers to the IRGC, special visits to European merchant ships by the IRGC Navy, and even the inspection of European diplomats at airports without observing diplomatic protocols.

At the same time, some foreign media outlets have reported that Iran intends to designate the armed forces of European Union member states as "terrorists," a move that could escalate tensions to a more dangerous level.

The EU decision comes after years of debate and controversy. Previously, several countries, including the United States, Canada, and Australia, had listed the IRGC as a terrorist group, but 27 European countries in recent years have not agreed to such a label due to diplomatic considerations.

Ultimately, the recent decision is described as part of a global response to the bloody repression of domestic protests in Iran, which, according to reports from human rights organizations and international media, has resulted in the deaths of thousands of unarmed protesters.