Italy will ask EU partners to add Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the EU terrorist list after a deadly crackdown on protesters, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said. He will raise the proposal at an EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels and seek coordinated measures, including individual sanctions. The move represents a notable shift for Rome, which had previously resisted a terror designation because of diplomatic risks. Tajani also ordered a significant drawdown of staff at Italy's Tehran embassy to protect citizens.
Italy To Push EU To List Iran’s Revolutionary Guard As Terror Group After Deadly Crackdown
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani speaks during an interview with Reuters in Rome, Italy, April 15, 2024. REUTERS/Guglielmo Mangiapane
Rome will press European Union partners this week to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Monday — a significant shift in Italy’s position following a violent crackdown on protests in Iran.
What Italy Will Propose
Tajani said he will raise the matter at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Thursday and coordinate with other capitals to seek the IRGC’s inclusion on the EU terrorist list, along with targeted sanctions on individuals deemed responsible for the violence.
Tajani wrote on X: "The losses suffered by the civilian population during the protests require a clear response."
Why It Matters
Designation as a terrorist organisation would trigger a package of legal, financial and diplomatic measures that would significantly restrict the IRGC’s ability to operate in Europe. The IRGC — created after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution — exerts wide influence over Iran’s economy, armed forces and strategic programmes, including ballistic missiles and aspects of its nuclear effort.
Some EU members have previously resisted a formal terror listing, arguing it could rupture diplomatic channels with Tehran, hinder efforts to revive nuclear negotiations and jeopardise efforts to secure the release of EU nationals detained in Iran. Diplomats have warned that continued objections from France could block formal listing.
Tajani also emphasised that protecting Italian citizens is a top priority and ordered a substantial reduction of staff at Italy’s embassy in Tehran, with personnel returning to Italy quickly.
(Reporting by Reuters journalists Crispian Balmer, Lili Bayer and John Irish; additional reporting by Gianluca Semeraro. Edited by William Maclean and Diane Craft.)
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