BRUSSELS — The European Union is preparing to impose unprecedented sanctions against Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, designating the powerful military force as a terrorist organization in response to Tehran’s brutal suppression of nationwide protests. This decisive move represents a significant escalation in Western pressure on the Islamic Republic, which already faces severe economic strain from existing international sanctions.
The EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, announced the landmark decision, stating that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard would be placed “on the same footing with al-Qaida, Hamas, and Daesh” in the bloc’s terrorist designation list. “If you act as a terrorist, you should also be treated as a terrorist,” Kallas declared, underscoring the EU’s hardening stance toward Tehran’s human rights violations.
This development occurs against a backdrop of heightened military tensions in the Middle East. The United States has deployed the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier group and several guided-missile destroyers to the region, capable of launching sea-based attacks. Iran has responded with counter-threats, including warnings of preemptive strikes against American military bases and Israeli targets.
The protests, initially sparked by economic grievances, have evolved into a broader challenge to Iran’s theocratic government. According to activist reports, at least 6,373 people have been killed during the crackdown on demonstrations. Iran’s economic situation continues to deteriorate, with its rial currency plummeting to a record low of 1.6 million to one U.S. dollar on Thursday.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot emphasized that “the unbearable repression that has engulfed the peaceful revolt of the Iranian people cannot go unanswered.” Despite initial reservations from France regarding potential risks to detained French citizens and diplomatic missions, President Emmanuel Macron’s administration has now endorsed the sanctions decision.
Under EU legislation, sanctions require unanimous approval from all 27 member states, a requirement that has previously complicated the bloc’s ability to leverage its economic influence in international crises, including responses to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.