EU Considers Designating Iran's Revolutionary Guard as 'Terrorist Group'... Implications of Harsh Crackdown on Protests

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The European Union (EU) has announced that it is considering designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which hinted at a harsh crackdown on anti-government protests, as a terrorist organization. As the protests in Iran enter their seventh week and human rights abuses continue to spread, diplomatic tensions between Iran and the West are intensifying once again.

According to AFP on the 30th (local time), German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in an interview with Germany's ARD broadcast, "As I clearly stated last week, the EU and Germany are exploring ways to list the IRGC as a terrorist organization," adding, "The EU plans to impose additional sanctions on Iran."

Minister Baerbock's remarks came just one day after Hossein Salami, the IRGC Commander-in-Chief, issued a final warning targeting the anti-government protesters. At a funeral for victims of a terrorist attack at the Islamic holy site held in the central city of Shiraz the previous day, Commander Salami stated, "Protesters should no longer take to the streets," and "Today will be the last day of the protests," signaling a hardline crackdown.

Human rights organizations report that at least 200 people have died so far as the IRGC and the Iranian government continue to use force to suppress the protesters. Consequently, not only the EU but also Western countries are reportedly preparing new sanctions against the Iranian government and the IRGC.

Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the EU has regularly designated terrorist organizations or individuals every December and imposed sanctions. Once designated, the assets of the targeted organizations or individuals within EU member states are frozen. Previously, the EU imposed sanctions such as travel bans on four government agencies that suppressed anti-government protests and 11 individuals, including the head of the Guidance Patrol. Germany also announced last week its intention to strengthen entry restrictions on Iran.