Iran foreign minister criticizes EU decision to list IRGC as terrorist group

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi criticized the European Union’s decision to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, calling it a “strategic mistake” that would undermine Europe’s role in regional affairs.

Speaking on arrival in Istanbul, Araghchi said the move reflected Europe’s misunderstanding of regional realities and its own interests. “Europe is undermining its position by taking steps like this,” he said, adding that Europeans would “soon realise their mistake.”

Araghchi’s visit to Turkey followed a trip by the Turkish foreign minister to Iran several months ago and aimed to review bilateral ties as well as discuss regional and international issues. He described relations between Iran and Turkey as close across political, economic, social and cultural spheres, with regular consultations on regional developments. He said heightened regional tensions and policies pursued by the United States and others made closer coordination among regional countries necessary.

The EU agreed on Thursday to add Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to its terrorist list in response to Tehran’s violent crackdown on nationwide protests. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the decision was taken unanimously by foreign ministers of the bloc’s 27 member states. Kallas said the designation would place the Guards on the same footing as groups such as al Qaeda, Hamas and Islamic State.

Iran has repeatedly rejected the EU move, saying the Guards are a legitimate state institution and accusing Europe of acting under political pressure.