Iran Labels EU Militaries as “Terrorist Organizations” After IRGC Blacklisting by European Union

Tehran: Iran’s parliament has declared that it considers the militaries of European Union member states to be “terrorist organizations”, escalating diplomatic tensions a week after the EU formally placed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on its terrorism blacklist.

The move was announced on Sunday by Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament, during a session in which lawmakers wearing IRGC uniforms condemned the EU’s decision. Qalibaf cited a 2019 Iranian law that allows Tehran to reciprocally label foreign armed forces as terrorist groups if those forces designate Iranian entities in a similar manner. He said the EU will “bear responsibility” for the consequences of its actions.

Last week, the European Union agreed to add the IRGC — thel paramilitary branch of Iran’s armed forces — to its list of terrorist organisations over the corps’ role in crushing nationwide protests that erupted in late 2025. The EU’s designation, supported unanimously by member states, also included sanctions such as asset freezes and travel bans on senior IRGC commanders and other Iranian officials.

Iran’s response, largely symbolic, reflects deepening mistrust between Tehran and European capitals. In his remarks, Qalibaf accused the EU of acting under “blind obedience” to the United States and said that Europe’s move would harm its own interests — rhetoric that underscores how diplomatic fallout from the protests’ aftermath is spreading into broader geopolitical arenas.

Officials in Tehran have also suggested potential follow-on actions, including reviewing the status of EU military attaches in the country and coordinating responses with Iran’s foreign ministry. The recent move comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East, with concurrent warnings from Iranian leadership about the risks of armed confrontation with the United States.

European officials and capitals are expected to respond diplomatically in the coming days, but analysts say the development complicates already tense relations between the EU and Iran and could affect cooperation on regional security, energy, and diplomatic engagement in the middle east.