The European Parliament, by a majority vote, designated the Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization.

The European Parliament, by a majority vote, while condemning the massacre of protesters, fully identified the Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization in its statement.

The European Parliament on Thursday, January 22, 2026, corresponding to 2 Bahman 1404, adopted a resolution by 562 votes in favor, 9 against, and 57 abstentions, condemning the “massacre of thousands of protesters” by the forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Representatives of this EU legislative body have considered such an approach to suppressing the opposition a sign of a change in approach from deterrence to “strategic destruction” and have called for an immediate end to violence, executions, and repression of the opposition.

In a resolution, the parliamentarians also called for the immediate and unconditional release of all protesters who have been arrested during the recent protests, including human rights defenders and journalists, and stressed that the Iranian regime must stop any repression and massacres.

In the resolution, the European Parliament called on the Council of the European Union to officially designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including the Basij Force and the Quds Force, as terrorist organizations without delay. This action is to be accompanied by the imposition of “more extensive restrictive measures” such as asset freezes and visa bans.

The representatives also welcomed the recent US sanctions against officials and institutions responsible for repression in Iran and stressed the need for the EU to "take swift action" to impose broader sanctions.

The European Parliament also condemned the Iranian government's actions to censor and shut down the internet during the protests and called on the European Union and its member states to increase technical and financial support for tools to bypass censorship and protect against cyber and information manipulation.

The European Parliament resolution is not limited to condemnation and political demands. Referring to the pattern of systematic repression against women, human rights activists, and political opponents, the representatives also emphasized the need to cooperate with UN investigative missions to investigate possible crimes.

The European Parliament's actions come as global pressure mounts on the Islamic Republic of Iran to respond to widespread human rights violations during the domestic protests. Views expressed within the European Union, including in statements by its foreign policy chief, have also been consistent in condemning the violence against protesters and supporting fundamental freedoms.

However, it is important to clarify that the final decision to place the IRGC on the list of terrorist organizations officially lies with the Council of the European Union, and the European Parliament has merely called on them, through its resolution, to take this step as quickly as possible.