The Council of the European Union has formally added Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the EU terrorist list, adopting the necessary legal instruments on 19 February 2026. The decision follows a political agreement reached at the Foreign Affairs Council on 29 January 2026, marking a significant shift in EU policy towards the IRGC.
The answer, provided by the Council in response to a parliamentary question from MEP Laurent Castillo (PPE), confirms the adoption of Council Decision (CFSP) 2026/421 and Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/420. These acts amend the EU's list of persons, groups, and entities subject to restrictive measures to combat terrorism, as defined under Common Position 2001/931/CFSP and Regulation (EC) No 2580/2001.
Castillo's question, submitted on 12 January 2026, urged the Council to respond to repeated European Parliament calls to designate the IRGC and its subsidiary forces, including the Basij, as a terrorist entity. The MEP highlighted the IRGC's role in violent repression of protests in Iran, serious human rights violations, and support for militias involved in terrorist acts and regional destabilisation. He noted that several international partners had already designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, while the EU had previously limited itself to targeted sanctions.
The Council's reply does not elaborate on the legal reasoning or any dissenting views among member states, but the adoption of the decision indicates that the necessary consensus was achieved. The move represents a hardening of the EU's stance on Iran, aligning it more closely with the United States and other allies that have already designated the IRGC. The decision is expected to have significant implications for EU-Iran relations, potentially affecting diplomatic engagement and economic ties. It also signals a shift towards a more security-focused approach in the region, prioritising counter-terrorism over other policy considerations.
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