Iran Designates EU Armies ‘Terrorist Groups’ in Retaliatory Move
Tehran escalates diplomatic conflict, marking a significant rupture with Brussels
In a dramatic escalation of tensions between Tehran and Brussels, Iran’s parliament has declared the armed forces of European Union (EU) member states to be “terrorist groups”, in a retaliatory response to the EU’s recent decision to list Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
The unprecedented move, announced on Sunday, February 1, 2026, marks one of the sharpest diplomatic confrontations between Iran and the EU in years — raising risks of further geopolitical fallout, shifts in sanctions dynamics, and impacts on military, economic, and diplomatic channels between the two sides.
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What Triggered Iran’s Decision?
The immediate cause of Iran’s declaration was the EU’s announcement to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization — a move that was formally agreed by EU foreign ministers late last week.
The IRGC, a powerful branch of Iran’s armed forces established after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, plays crucial political, military, and economic roles in the country. Over recent weeks, it has been at the center of domestic and international criticism due to its role in violently suppressing widespread protests, which have become some of the deadliest since the establishment of the Islamic Republic.
EU leaders — including foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen — described the designation as a necessary response to human rights abuses and repression. They argued that Tehran’s security forces should face consequences for actions against protesters.
In response, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf invoked an Iranian law that allows reciprocal measures, stating that under its terms, the armies of EU countries that participated in the IRGC listing would now be treated as “terrorist groups”.
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Inside Iran’s Parliament: Symbolism and Rhetoric
The retaliatory move occurred during a parliamentary session in Tehran, where lawmakers even wore IRGC uniforms in a symbolic show of support for the elite force and its role in national security.
Ghalibaf condemned the EU decision as blinding obedience to U.S. pressure and said it went against European interests. Iranian officials described the IRGC as a force that not only defends Iranian territory but also combats extremist groups — framing the EU’s designation as offensive and unjustified.
In strong rhetoric, lawmakers suggested possible future steps, including discussions about expelling military attachés from EU embassies, signaling that diplomatic and security ties could be affected.
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Legal and Diplomatic Implications
Under Iranian law — particularly Article 7 of the 2019 Law on Countermeasures Against the Declaration of the IRGC as a Terrorist Organization — Tehran can impose reciprocal classifications on states that label the IRGC as a terrorist group.
While this legal framework exists domestically, designating the armies of sovereign EU nations as terrorist organizations has no immediate practical enforcement internationally, as these classifications are not recognized outside Iran. Nonetheless, the symbolic weight and diplomatic message are significant.
Many analysts note that Iran’s response is designed as a political counterstrike to project strength domestically and internationally, rather than to initiate an operational shift in military relations. But such tit-for-tat moves often carry broader diplomatic consequences, especially at a time when global tensions are already elevated.
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Broader Geopolitical Context
Iran’s declaration follows a period of heightened tensions with Western powers, particularly related to the country’s domestic unrest and its relations with the United States. Alongside EU actions, the U.S. has previously labeled the IRGC as a terrorist organization — a designation that Tehran has long cited as provocative.
The EU’s decision, however, marked a rare instance of European unity on a policy targeting Iran’s military apparatus — reflecting growing concern over human rights violations and regional destabilization.
The intensifying diplomatic conflict occurs against a backdrop of U.S.–Iran tensions in the Middle East, especially related to naval deployments and warnings of potential military escalation. Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have warned that any external military action could spark broader regional conflict.
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Reactions in Europe and Beyond
While EU leaders have defended their decision as consistent with international norms and human rights obligations, Tehran’s retaliatory move has been met with disapproval from European capitals. Critics in Brussels and member states argue that Iran’s labeling of EU militaries trivializes the legal standards associated with counterterrorism and could further damage already fragile diplomatic ties.
Some European diplomats have emphasized that their designation of the IRGC is part of a broader sanctions and accountability effort, rather than a move intended to sever ties completely. Nonetheless, Tehran’s sharp response underscores how quickly diplomatic disputes can escalate into symbolic confrontations that strain negotiation paths and peace-building efforts.
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What Comes Next?
The declaration of EU armies as “terrorist groups” is unlikely to have direct legal force outside Iran, but it intensifies diplomatic bitterness and complicates future dialogue between Tehran and Western institutions.
Experts caution that such retaliatory moves can widen divisions and reduce incentives for constructive engagement, especially at a time when negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program, regional stability, and protest-related human rights issues are ongoing.
As tensions simmer, both sides face critical choices: whether to double down on punitive actions or seek avenues for de-escalation through diplomatic channels. The coming weeks will be decisive in determining whether this confrontation deepens into further sanctions and countermeasures — or if external actors can mediate a reduction in rhetorical and legal hostilities.
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