Iran has declared the armies of European countries “terrorist groups” in response to the European Union’s decision to apply the same designation to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced the move on Sunday, describing the EU’s action as an “irresponsible action” and citing domestic legislation as the basis for Tehran’s response.
According to Ghalibaf, under “Article 7 of the Law on Countermeasures Against the Declaration of the IRGC as a Terrorist Organisation, the armies of European countries are considered terrorist groups”.
During the legislative session, lawmakers wore the green uniform of the Guards in a show of solidarity and chanted “Death to America”, “Death to Israel,” and “Shame on you, Europe”, according to footage broadcast on state television.
It remained unclear what immediate impact the decision would have. The law referenced by Ghalibaf was first passed in 2019 after the United States classified the Guards as a terrorist organisation.
Sunday’s session coincided with the 47th anniversary of the return from exile of the late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who founded the Islamic Republic in 1979.
ALSO READ: Epstein files: New US DOJ release suggest Bill Gates had extramarital affairs
The Guards serve as the ideological arm of Iran’s military and are tasked with protecting the Islamic revolution from internal and external threats. Western governments have accused the force of leading a violent crackdown on recent protests that reportedly left thousands dead.
Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on “terrorist acts” allegedly encouraged by the United States and Israel.
The European Union agreed on Thursday to list the IRGC as a “terrorist organisation” over its response to the protests, aligning with similar designations by the United States, Canada and Australia.
Ghalibaf said the decision, “which was carried out in compliance with the orders of the American president and the leaders of the Zionist regime, accelerated Europe’s path to becoming irrelevant in the future world order”.
He added that the move had only increased domestic support for the Guards.
The parliamentary session took place amid rising tensions, as Iran and the United States continued to exchange warnings and threats of possible military action.
(AFP)