PARIS: Iran on Thur­sday blasted a European Union move to designate the country’s Revolu­tionary Guards a terrorist organisation, branding the decision “irresponsible and spite-driven” and warning it constitutes a “major strategic mistake”.

The 27-nation bloc agreed on Thursday to the designation over a deadly crackdown on mass protests, sending a powerful message of condemnation to Tehran that officials there warned would have “destructive consequences”.

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi slammed the decision on the social media platform X, noting the heightened military tensions between Tehran and Washington.

“Several countries are presently attempting to avert the eruption of all-out war in our region. Europe is instead busy fanning the flames,” Araghchi said as Iran faces off with the US, which has moved a strike force to the Middle East.

Araghchi added that after key European powers triggered the return of UN sanctions on Iran last year — known as the “snapback” mechanism — at the “behest of the US,” the EU was now compounding the error.

It is “making another major strategic mistake by designating our National Military as a supposed ‘terrorist organisation,’” Araghchi said.

A statement from the General Staff of the Armed Forces, carried by the official IRNA news agency, echoed the top diplomat’s sentiment, accusing the EU of acting as a proxy for Iran’s adversaries.

“The illogical, irresponsible and spite-driven action of the European Union has undoubtedly been taken in unquestioning obedience to the hegemonic and anti-human policies of the United States and the Zionist (Israeli) regime,” the statement read.

While largely symbolic, the designation was described by EU chief Ursula von der Leyen as “long overdue”. The bloc’s foreign ministers took the decision to penalise the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) over the repression of dissent.

“‘Terrorist’ is indeed how you call a regime that crushes its own people’s protests in blood,” von der Leyen posted online.

In addition to the terror designation, the EU adopted visa bans and asset freezes on 21 state entities and Iranian officials over the repression. Those targeted included the interior minister, the prosecutor general and regional IRGC commanders.

Iranian authorities acknowledge that more than 3,000 people were killed during the unrest but dispute who is responsible. They claim the majority of casualties were members of the security forces or bystanders killed by “rioters.”

Rights groups, however, say the death toll is far higher — potentially in the tens of thousands — and note that protesters were killed by security forces, including the Revolutionary Guards, firing directly on them.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2026