Iran Declares Naval and Air Forces of EU Member Countries Terrorist Organizations in Reciprocal Action

Iran's Foreign Ministry announced on February 21 that it has designated the naval and air forces of all European Union member countries as terrorist organizations. This move comes in direct response to the EU's decision on February 19 to list Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity.

According to the ministry's official statement, the action is based on the principle of reciprocity and aligns with Iran's domestic law passed in 2019 in reaction to the United States designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization. The ministry described the EU's decision as illegal and contrary to the UN Charter and international law principles, emphasizing that the IRGC is an integral part of Iran's armed forces.

The statement holds EU member countries responsible for any political, legal, and international consequences and urges them to reconsider their position to avoid escalating tensions. Both Amu TV and Hasht-e Subh reported the ministry's declaration consistently, with Hasht-e Subh adding context on prior EU sanctions targeting Iranian entities involved in suppressing protesters and supporting Russia.

The EU Council had formally added the IRGC to its terrorist list, freezing its assets and placing it alongside groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda, as previously reported by Reuters.