Iran designates EU navies, air forces as terror organizations
The government of the Islamic Republic of Iran has designated the naval and air forces of the European Union member states as terrorist organizations.
According to a statement issued by Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Saturday, the designation came in response to the “unlawful and unjustified decision” by the EU to place the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) on its terrorist list.
The European Council added the IRGC to the EU terrorist list on Thursday, following “the political agreement reached by the Foreign Affairs Council” on January 29, the council announced on its official website.
In its statement, the Foreign Ministry said EU governments had acted against the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter by designating the IRGC, which is part of the Iranian Armed Forces, as a terrorist organization.
In response to the EU move, the Iranian government is taking reciprocal measures against the navies and air forces of EU countries, the statement said. It cited a 2019 Iranian law, passed after the United States placed the IRGC on its terrorist list, which stipulates that all countries that in any way comply with or support the US decision shall be subject to reciprocal measures.
Based on the principle of reciprocity, the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran considers “the naval and air forces of all European Union member states to be subject to the aforementioned law and its provisions, including Article 4. Accordingly, within the framework of reciprocal action, it designates and declares them to be terrorist organizations,” the ministry said.