In January 2026, the European Union officially designated the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. This decision was announced by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who criticized the IRGC's role in violently suppressing protests that erupted in Iran. Kallas emphasized that those who act like terrorists must be treated as such, highlighting the responsibility of the IRGC in the government's oppressive actions against its own citizens.

Kallas detailed the alarming toll inflicted upon protesters, stating that the regime's methods of repression are genuinely horrifying. She underscored the intention behind this designation: to signal that there are consequences for suppressing the public, stressing that such actions warrant international sanctions and a demand for accountability. The move is part of broader efforts to hold the Iranian regime responsible for its internal human rights violations.

The IRGC was established following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, during which islamists overthrew the Western-backed government, aimed at safeguarding the nascent clerical regime against both internal and external threats. This designation marks a significant shift in how the EU approaches Iranian governance, signaling a stance that directly ties human rights abuses to international diplomatic and economic pressures.