New Delhi: Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was listed as a terrorist organisation by the European Union on Friday. The move comes amidst a deadly crackdown on protestors in the country by the government. The country is seeing mass protests, led by the people against its ‘oppressive government’.
Move puts IRGC in the same bracket as al-Qaeda and ISIS: EU Official
EU’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas was quoted by BBC as saying, “Repression cannot go unanswered.” The move by the bloc would also put the IRGC in the league of terrorist organisations like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State.
Reacting to the move by the world body, Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi said that the EU was making a “major strategic mistake”. He also termed it as a “stunt.”
Several human rights groups estimated that the IRGC and other security forces in Iran killed thousands of protestors in December and January. France also joined in the condemnation of the killing of people in Iran. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot described the repression of protestors as the “most violent repression in Iran’s modern history.” He said that there could be no “impunity for the crimes committed.”
Earlier France had shown some reluctance to adding the IRGC to the list of terrorist groups. This was out of fear of losing all diplomatic contact with Iran. But on Wednesday, it changed its stance, choosing instead to back other countries to put the IRGC on the blacklist. The group was led by Italy.
In a statement released on social media, Kallas said, “Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working towards its own demise.”
Expect diplomatic channels with Iran to remain open: Kallas
Kallas hoped that the diplomatic channels with Iran would remain open, despite the EU blacklisting the IRGC and declaring it a terrorist organisation. Apart from blacklisting the security forces of the country, the EU has also put sanctions on at least 15 individuals and 6 entities from Iran. Those hit by EU sanctions include,
Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, Prosecutor General Mohammad Movahedi Azad and Iman Afshari, a presiding judge.
According to the EU, all of those sanctioned were in some way or the other involved in “violent repression of protestors”. They also allowed the arbitrary arrest of human right defenders and political activists in the country, said the EU.
Those on the sanction list will have to face travel bans and may see their assets being frozen. These moves would help break down their support network, the EU hopes.
The EU sanctions come amidst an open threat from the US to attack Iran. US President Donald Trump is reportedly weighing his options to launch an attack on Tehran, after preliminary discussions between the 2 sides over limiting Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile production failed to make progress.
What is the IRGC?
IRGC are considered to be Iran’s most powerful armed forces. It was set up in 1979, shortly after the revolution and was aimed at defending the country’s Islamic system. It reportedly has 190,000 active personnel, who are deployed across land, air and sea. The group is also tasked with overseeing Iran’s strategic weapons.
The group enjoys considerable influence abroad, providing strategic guidance and weapons to allied countries. It also controls the paramilitary Basij Resistance Force inside Iran, which is used to suppress dissent within the country.