AhlulBayt News Agency: Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf announced that Iran now considers the armies of European countries to be terrorist organizations, in response to the European Union’s decision to blacklist the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC).
He made the remarks during an open parliamentary session on Sunday, three days after EU foreign ministers designated the IRGC as a “terrorist” entity—a move the Iranian Foreign Ministry condemned as “unlawful, unjustified, and duplicitous.”
Qalibaf stated that the IRGC is the world’s most exceptional anti‑terror force, which, with the support of regional nations, dismantled Daesh and eliminated the global threat posed by the group.
He added that in its fight against international terrorism, the IRGC has sacrificed hundreds of its members, including one of its most distinguished commanders, Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani.
Qalibaf stressed that hostility from global supporters of terrorism will not weaken the IRGC. He declared that under Article 7 of Iran’s reciprocal action law—passed after the U.S. designated the IRGC as a terrorist group—Iran now classifies European armies as terrorist entities, and the EU must bear responsibility for the consequences.
He noted that the IRGC had previously been blacklisted by the U.S. in 2019, by Canada in 2024, and by Australia in 2025, with the EU following suit on Thursday, citing Iran’s handling of recent foreign‑linked unrest.
The designation, he said, came at a time when the United States had intensified its threats against Iran and expanded its military presence in the region.
Qalibaf criticized the EU’s “irresponsible” decision, saying it was based on unfounded accusations against the IRGC.
He added that the 27‑member bloc’s move—taken “in obedience to the U.S. president and the leaders of the Zionist regime”—would only accelerate Europe’s decline in the emerging global order.
The speaker emphasized that the EU’s action has strengthened public support for the IRGC, which has consistently protected the nation’s security and assisted people during crises such as floods, earthquakes, and the COVID‑19 pandemic, while also contributing to development and poverty‑alleviation efforts.
He warned that by targeting the IRGC—the main barrier preventing terrorism from spreading into Europe—the EU had effectively harmed its own interests by blindly following U.S. directives.
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