The European Union is considering adding the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), also known as the Pasdaran, to its list of terrorist organisations.
That comes following the latest violent incidents during protests in Iran.
The ambassadors of the EU Political and Security Committee discussed the issue at a meeting in Brussels, Euronews reported on January 14.
The IRGC is a central pillar of Iran’s power structure, directly involved in its institutions and political decision-making.
Designating it as a terrorist organisation would place it on the same level as groups such as ISIS, al-Qaeda, Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, triggering EU entry bans, asset freezes and restrictions on funding. Such a move would have a significant impact on the international standing and legitimacy of the Iranian state as a whole.
Also known as the Guardians of the Revolution, the Pasdaran were formed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution as an armed force parallel to the regular army. It was still considered close to the previous Shah’s regime and answered directly to the clergy, whose top leaders are called ayatollahs.
Over the years, the IRGC has gained increasing military and political influence, so much so that many analysts now refer to Iran as the “Pasdaran Regime” rather than simply the regime of the ayatollahs.
It is a complex organisation, with political, economic and military branches.
Some of those operate beyond Iran’s borders. Its elite units, known as the Quds Force, act abroad to protect the Islamic Republic’s security and to reinforce Tehran’s network of alliances across the Middle East. They include groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas, which seek to counter Israeli and US influence in the region.
The IRGC is a highly ideological movement, closely tied to the clergy, whose fate is inseparably linked to the Islamic Republic. Its activities are widely seen as a direct threat to Israel’s security.
The US designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation in 2019, citing its involvement in plots, support for terrorism and the killing of US citizens.
Now, following the violent repression of protests in Iran, the EU is considering whether to take a similar step.
While the IRGC is already subject to EU sanctions — including asset freezes and restrictions on financial transactions — these measures are not equivalent to a formal terrorist designation, which the bloc has not yet adopted.
In 2023, the European Parliament once again condemned the corps’ role in repressing protests following the death of Mahsa Amini. In 2022, she was detained and died in state custody in relation to state-imposed religious dress. The EP called on member states to consider the Quds Force a terrorist entity as well.
Countries such as Germany and the Baltic States are now pushing to accelerate discussions, concerned about ongoing violence against protesters in Iran.
EP President Roberta Metsola, speaking on January 14, said she supports designating the Pasdaran as a terrorist organisation and believes other EU institutions should follow suit.
She stressed that the EP has been calling for such a measure since January 2023, citing the IRGC’s role in human rights violations and attacks on European interests.
Italy, France, and Spain have not yet made a decision and diplomats say a thorough discussion is needed before any formal step is taken.
According to EU rules, adding an organisation to the terrorist list requires a legal basis and unanimous approval from member states.
Hopes have grown following a March 2024 ruling by the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court, which held an Iranian agency responsible for a 2022 attack on a synagogue.
Political factors, though, weigh heavily: France and Italy are reluctant to fully sever ties with Tehran, while other states fear escalation without tangible results, given that many IRGC members are already subject to sanctions.
According to analysts, declaring the IRGC a terrorist organisation would effectively label the entire Iranian regime as terrorist.
