Iran summons EU ambassadors over Revolutionary Guard terror designation

Tehran on Monday formally summoned all European Union ambassadors stationed in the country to protest the bloc’s recent decision to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, escalating diplomatic tensions. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the summons began on Sunday at the Foreign Ministry and described the EU’s move as “illegal, unjustified and very wrong.” He added that the protest was only “a minimal step” and that “a series of actions were reviewed, various options were being prepared and were sent to the related decision‑making bodies.”

The EU listed the IRGC as a terrorist organization last week in response to its role in violently suppressing nationwide protests that erupted in late 2025 and continued into early 2026. Human rights organizations estimate that thousands of protesters(approx. 1200) were killed and tens of thousands detained during the crackdown. The designation carries legal consequences, including asset freezes, travel bans, and criminalization of material support for the IRGC.

Other Western countries, including the United States and Canada, had already labeled the IRGC as a terrorist group, but the EU move is particularly significant given Europe’s previous reluctance to take such measures against a major state institution. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated, “repression cannot go unanswered,” emphasizing that the measure is a direct response to the violent crackdown. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen added that the IRGC’s actions in suppressing protests justify the terrorist designation.

Iran’s response has extended beyond summoning diplomats. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf invoked a 2019 law to declare the militaries of EU member states as “terrorist groups” in a symbolic retaliatory move. Baghaei stressed that Iran expects “reciprocal action” from the EU in response to what Tehran views as an illegitimate decision. Iranian armed forces called the EU move “illogical, irresponsible and spiteful,” accusing European leaders of acting under external influence.

The broader geopolitical context remains tense. The United States has repositioned naval assets, including the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group, to the Middle East amid concerns over Iran’s domestic crackdown and the potential for military escalation. Tehran has expressed willingness to engage in talks with Washington to ease tensions, even as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that any U.S. attack would trigger a wider regional conflict.

The IRGC, established after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution to protect the clerically guided political system, has grown into a powerful military and economic force operating alongside, but independently of, Iran’s regular armed forces. Its prominent role in quelling protests has drawn intensified international scrutiny and contributed to Iran’s growing diplomatic isolation.