Terrorists
The European Union has added Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its terrorist list in response to Tehran’s deadly crackdown on protesters in recent weeks.
“Repression cannot go unanswered,” the bloc’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said, adding the move will put the IRGC – a major military, economic and political force in Iran – on the same level as jihadist groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the EU decision was a “stunt” and a “major strategic mistake”.
Human rights groups estimate thousands of protesters were killed by security forces, including the IRGC, during weeks of unrest in December and January.Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) was set up 40 years ago to defend the country’s Islamic system, and to provide a counterweight to the regular armed forces.
It has since become a major military, political and economic force in Iran, with close ties to the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and many other senior figures.
The IRGC is estimated to have more than 190,000 active personnel, boasts its own ground forces, navy and air force, and oversees Iran’s strategic weapons
