By Sabiu Abdullahi
The European Union has officially designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist organisation”, a move that further deepens tensions between Tehran and Western powers amid rising military threats from the United States.
The decision followed a meeting of EU foreign ministers and was announced by the bloc’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas. The designation came as US President Donald Trump renewed warnings of possible military action against Iran.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, responded with a sharp warning, saying the country’s armed forces were ready to respond “immediately and powerfully” to any attack by the United States. His remarks came hours after Trump said Washington was prepared to act with “speed and violence”.
In recent days, the US has strengthened its military presence in the region. Among the assets deployed to the Arabian Sea is the USS Abraham Lincoln, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.
Alongside the terror designation, EU foreign ministers approved fresh sanctions against Iran. The measures include travel bans and asset freezes targeting Iranian officials accused of involvement in the killing of thousands of antigovernment protesters since late December last year.
From Tehran, the General Staff of Iran’s Armed Forces condemned the EU’s decision. In a statement, it described the move as “illogical, irresponsible and spiteful”, and accused the bloc of acting in line with US and Israeli policies. The statement warned that “the dangerous consequences of this hostile and provocative decision will be directly borne by European policymakers”.
Iranian officials noted that the United States had already taken a similar step in 2019, when it designated the IRGC as a foreign “terrorist organisation”.
International reactions quickly followed the EU’s announcement. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged restraint and called for diplomacy to prevent further escalation.
“We believe that it’s important that there is a dialogue allowing for an agreement in relation, namely, to the nuclear question and that we can avoid a crisis that could have devastating consequences in the region,” Guterres told reporters.
In Washington, US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said Iran still had an opportunity to reach an agreement with the United States, but warned that the Pentagon stood ready to act if talks failed.
“They have all the options to make a deal,” Hegseth said. “They should not pursue nuclear capabilities.”
He added: “We will be prepared to deliver whatever this president expects from the war department, just like we did this month [in Venezuela].”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also engaged regional leaders as tensions rose. According to a statement from the Iranian presidency, Pezeshkian spoke with the emir of Qatar and the prime minister of Pakistan, stressing “the importance of strengthening unity among Islamic countries” and the need for continued diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions.
The statement added that Iran had chosen “the path of dialogue and dignified diplomacy”, while warning that the country “will not hesitate to defend itself if necessary”.
Germany welcomed the EU’s decision, with its Foreign Office calling the move “overdue”.
“The decision taken today sends a strong political message,” the ministry said. “We as the EU are thus showing that we see what is happening in Iran. We stand side by side with the Iranian people. We stand up for humanity and we oppose repression.”
Germany also confirmed that new individual sanctions had been imposed on officials accused of responsibility for what it described as the “brutal suppression of the protests”.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen echoed that position, calling the designation “long overdue”.
“‘Terrorist’ is indeed how you call a regime that crushes its own people’s protests in blood,” she said. “Europe stands with the people of Iran in their brave fight for freedom.”
Israel also praised the EU action. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar described it as an “important and historic decision”, claiming it would deal a “powerful blow” to the legitimacy of Iran’s government.
Meanwhile, Tehran summoned Germany’s ambassador after Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the Iranian government’s “days are numbered”.
“It could be a matter of weeks, but this regime has no legitimacy to govern the country,” Merz said.
Iran has also issued warnings of upcoming military drills in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which about 20 percent of global oil supplies pass, raising further concerns over regional stability.
The IRGC, established after Iran’s 1979 revolution, operates alongside the regular army and reports directly to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It plays a central role in Iran’s defence strategy and regional influence and remains deeply embedded in the country’s political and economic structures.
As diplomatic pressure mounts and military posturing continues, analysts warn that the situation carries high risks, with the potential for serious consequences across the Middle East if tensions spiral further.