Iran has officially designated the air and naval forces of European Union member states as terrorist organizations. This action comes in retaliation to the European Council's decision to classify the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, a move that Iran deems illegal and unjustified. The Iranian Foreign Ministry made this announcement, emphasizing that the European governments' decision contradicts the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter.

The Iranian declaration cites a law established in 2019 following the U.S. designation of the Revolutionary Guards as terrorists, which states that any country supporting the U.S. stance will face reciprocal measures. This indicates that Iran views not only the EU's decision as a challenge to its sovereignty but also signals a further escalation in tensions between Iran and Western nations. The Iranian Parliament had previously referred to European armies as terrorists on February 1, reinforcing Tehran's defensive rhetoric.

The implications of this designation could be significant, potentially leading to heightened hostilities between Iranian forces and European military operations in the region. As Iran continues to respond to perceived external threats with such designations, it asserts its stance against Western policies while seeking to solidify its internal and external legitimacy amidst ongoing geopolitical tensions.