By Micah Jonah
January 29, 2026
The European Union is set to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization following a major policy shift by France, which had previously opposed the move.
EU foreign ministers are scheduled to meet in Brussels on Thursday, where they are expected to give political approval to new sanctions against Iran in response to a violent crackdown on nationwide protests that has resulted in thousands of deaths and arrests.
France’s Foreign Minister, Jean Noel Barrot, confirmed the change in position on Wednesday, saying France would now support placing the IRGC on the EU’s terrorist blacklist.
He said the repression of protesters in Iran could no longer be ignored, stressing that Europe must respond firmly to the actions of Iranian authorities and the security forces involved in the crackdown.
With France, Germany and Italy now backing the proposal, diplomatic sources say the decision is likely to be approved politically, although formal listing still requires unanimous agreement among the EU’s 27 member states.
The IRGC, established after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, plays a central role in the country’s military, intelligence operations and major sectors of the economy. It also oversees Iran’s missile and nuclear programmes and has been accused by Western governments of involvement in overseas militant activities.
France had earlier expressed concern that designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization could lead to a complete breakdown of diplomatic relations with Tehran and jeopardise negotiations for the release of European citizens detained in Iran. Paris was also worried about the safety of French nationals currently in the country.
However, diplomats say the scale and severity of the recent crackdown on protesters forced a reassessment, with European leaders concluding that stronger measures were necessary to send a clear political message to Tehran.
If approved, the move would align the European Union with the United States, which designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization in 2019.
Iran has previously warned that such a step would have serious consequences for relations with Europe, has accused Western nations of interfering in its internal affairs.
