The European Union has formally designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, a major diplomatic rebuke tied to Tehran’s brutal suppression of nationwide protests that have drawn global condemnation. EU foreign ministers unanimously agreed to add the elite paramilitary force to the bloc’s terrorism list—putting it on par with groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS—after overcoming earlier objections from some member states.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called the decision a “decisive step,” saying repression cannot go unanswered and signalling strong political disapproval of Iran’s human rights record. The move also includes sanctions on 15 Iranian officials and associated entities, targeting individuals connected to violent crackdowns on protesters and broader repression.

Iran has warned of “destructive consequences” if the designation proceeds, raising tensions with European capitals already concerned about regional security and human rights.