Iran on 1 February 2026 announced it now considers the armies of European Union countries as “terrorist groups”, marking a significant escalation in diplomatic tensions triggered by the bloc’s landmark designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. 

In a session of Iran’s parliament in Tehran, Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf invoked a domestic law that establishes reciprocal countermeasures to foreign restrictions on the IRGC. Lawmakers at the session wore IRGC uniforms in a show of solidarity, chanting slogans critical of Western powers. 

Background: EU’s Terrorist Listing of the IRGC

On 29 January 2026, the European Union formally designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization in response to its role in violently suppressing nationwide protests in Iran. The decision, backed by all 27 member states, aligns with similar classifications already adopted by the United States, Canada, and Australia. 

The EU’s move imposes asset freezes, criminalizes material support, and can trigger travel bans for IRGC members — placing the powerful force, which answers directly to Iran’s Supreme Leader, on the bloc’s main terrorist list alongside groups like Hamas and ISIS. 

Tehran’s Response and Legal Basis

Iran’s counter-designation stems from Article 7 of its domestic countermeasure law, first adopted in 2019, which allows reciprocal status labeling of foreign forces if Tehran’s own forces are blacklisted abroad. Iran’s parliament stated that the EU’s action “shot itself in the foot” and reflected blind obedience to U.S. influence. 

Lawmakers also discussed the potential expulsion of EU military attaches and signaled that Tehran would hold the bloc responsible for any consequences arising from its retaliatory steps. 

Diplomatic and Security Implications

The exchange of designations marks one of the sharpest recent downturns in Iran–EU relations. While the EU frames its decision as a response to human rights violations and repression of protesters, Tehran views it as a provocative breach of diplomatic norms likely to undermine future cooperation. 

Analysts warn that such escalations could further strain not only ties between Iran and Europe but also affect broader regional security dynamics, particularly in the volatile Middle East where Western and Iranian interests frequently intersect.

Sources: AP News, Reuters