EU examines classifying Iran Revolutionary Guards as terrorists: Germany

EU examines classifying Iran Revolutionary Guards as terrorists: Germany
October 31, 2022, 8:00 am

Members of Iran's Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) march during an annual military parade. (File photo AFP)

Germany and the European Union are examining whether to classify Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Sunday (Oct 30).

“I made it clear last week that we will launch another package of sanctions, that we will examine how we can also list the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization,” Baerbock said in an interview with ARD broadcaster on Sunday (Oct 30).

Her comments come after the head of the Revolutionary Guards warned protesters that Saturday would be their last day of taking to the streets, in a sign that security forces may intensify their already fierce crackdown on widespread unrest.

Germany last week said it was tightening entry restrictions on Iran beyond an already announced EU sanctions package.

Baebock also said there were currently no negotiations about the nuclear agreement between Iran and the West.

Germany and the European Union are examining whether to classify Iran's Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation - Photo. Pixabay

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is a branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, founded after the Iranian Revolution on 22 April 1979 by order of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Since its origin as an ideologically driven militia, the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution has taken a greater role in nearly every aspect of Iranian society.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warn of ‘decisive’ action if unrest continues

Reuters opined in 2019 that "It is also an industrial empire with political clout."

the Revolutionary Guard is intended to protect the country's Islamic republic political system, which supporters believe includes preventing foreign interference and coups by the military or "deviant movements".

The IRGC is designated as a terrorist organization by the governments of Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and the United States.

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