Key Takeaways
- Israel has reiterated its urgent appeal to the European Union to officially designate Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, citing the group's destabilizing activities and human rights abuses.
- The call comes amidst ongoing international pressure on the EU, with several member states and the European Parliament having previously advocated for the designation, despite legal hurdles cited by some EU officials.
- Such a classification would significantly impact European-Iran trade relations, given the IRGC's estimated control over more than 50% of the Iranian economy.
- The United States designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization in 2019, and Washington continues to encourage its allies to follow suit to intensify pressure on Tehran.
Israel has renewed its urgent appeal to the European Union, urging the bloc to officially classify Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. This persistent diplomatic push aims to intensify international pressure on Tehran, which Israel and its allies accuse of widespread destabilization in the Middle East and beyond.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Foreign Minister Eli Cohen have previously called on EU leaders, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to take this decisive step. They argue that the IRGC is actively involved in supplying lethal weapons, including drones, to conflicts like the war in Ukraine, while also suppressing its own citizens and pursuing nuclear capabilities.
The call from Israel is not isolated. Several EU member states, notably Germany and Sweden, have also been advocating for the IRGC's designation. The European Parliament passed a non-binding resolution in January 2023, with an overwhelming majority, requesting the EU to list the IRGC as a terror entity. This resolution cited the IRGC's brutal crackdown on protests following the death of Mahsa Amini and its broader human rights violations.
Despite the growing political will, the EU has faced internal legal debates regarding the designation. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has previously stated that a lack of legal rulings demonstrating IRGC terrorist attacks within Europe presented an obstacle. However, proponents argue that sufficient legal grounds exist, pointing to a German court ruling linking the Iranian state to a 2022 synagogue attack in Bochum.
A full terrorism designation would grant European law enforcement greater powers to prosecute Iranian regime officials and organizations. It would also have profound economic implications, as the IRGC is estimated to control over half of Iran's economy, potentially disrupting European-Iran trade relations. Iran has strongly condemned such proposals, warning that classifying the IRGC as a terrorist entity would be a "shot in the foot" for Europe. The United States (USD) designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization in 2019 under the Trump administration and continues to encourage its European allies to adopt similar measures.
Ed Liston is a senior contributing editor at TheStockMarketWatch.com. An active market watcher and investor, Ed guides an independent team of experienced analysts and writes for multiple stock trader publications.