Iran designates EU countries' naval and air forces as "terrorist organizations"

Xinhua News Agency, Tehran, February 21 (Reporter Shadati, Chen Xiao) The Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a statement on the 21st, stating that the Iranian government has designated the navies and air forces of EU member states as "terrorist organizations" in response to the EU's listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran as a "terrorist organization."

The Islamic Republic News Agency reported, citing this statement, that the governments of EU countries have classified the IRGC as a "terrorist organization," violating the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter. The IRGC is part of the Iranian armed forces.

The EU Council announced on its official website on the 19th that following the "political agreement" reached by the foreign ministers of EU member states on January 29, the EU officially listed the IRGC as a "terrorist organization" on that day.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry's statement said that in response, the Iranian government is taking reciprocal measures against the navies and air forces of EU countries, based on a law passed by Iran in 2019 after the United States designated the IRGC as a "terrorist organization." This law stipulates that all countries that comply with or support the U.S. decision in any way will face "reciprocal" sanctions.

The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Borrell, stated on social media on January 29 that the foreign ministers of EU member states decided that day to list the IRGC as a "terrorist organization." The Iranian Foreign Ministry and the General Staff of the Armed Forces issued statements that day strongly condemning this decision. The advisor to Iran's Supreme Leader, Larijani, said on January 30 that any country participating in the recent EU decisions regarding the IRGC will have its military regarded as a "terrorist organization."