EU Parliament chief: Time to designate Iran’s IRGC as terrorist organisation

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has called for tougher measures against Iran, condemning what she described as an intensifying campaign of repression by the authorities.

Metsola stated that Europe “will not look away” and must move toward stronger action, including additional sanctions and the formal designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation.

In her statement on X, Metsola wrote:

"Appalling images keep emerging from Iran showcasing the continued brutality of a regime that is terrified of its own people.

Terrified, because the tools of repression they rely on for self-preservation are no longer capable of silencing the cries of freedom the world hears from the brave people risking their lives on Iran's streets.

Our message to them is: Believe. No one thought the Berlin Wall would collapse before it was torn down. No one thought a small group of Lithuanians on this day in 1991 would beat back the might of the Soviet army, until they did.

The yearning for freedom can defeat seemingly impossible odds.

Europe will not look away.

The European Parliament has acted and banned Iranian regime diplomats, and we are pushing stronger sanctions against individuals engaged in repression against protesters, including finally designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation."

Her comments come against the backdrop of expanding unrest across Iran. The protests erupted in late December 2025 after a sharp collapse in the national currency and soaring retail prices.

What began as demonstrations over economic grievances has since grown into widespread calls for the removal of the clerical leadership. In several cities, clashes between protesters and security forces have escalated into violent confrontations that have left hundreds dead.

Emerging information from Iran on January 13 indicates that the scale of the crackdown may be far more severe than previously reported. According to multiple sources, including one inside the country, CBS News was told that activist groups collecting data from hospitals and medical officials now estimate the death toll at a minimum of 12,000, with some assessments suggesting at least 20,000 fatalities. These figures have not been independently verified, and sources note that strict communication controls imposed by the authorities likely contribute to significant underreporting.

Analysts view the current wave of demonstrations as the most serious internal challenge faced by the Iranian government in at least three years, unfolding at a time of heightened external pressure following Israeli and US strikes last year.