Iran designates EU armies ‘terrorist groups’ in retaliatory move

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffFebruary 1, 2026 at 09:47 AM

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

In February 2026, Iran designated European armies as "terrorist groups" in retaliation for the European Union's decision to label the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization. The Iranian parliament speaker stated this action was in response to the EU's move, which was prompted by the IRGC's crackdown on recent protests within Iran. The EU's foreign policy chief announced the IRGC designation, citing the regime's repression of its own people. Protests in Iran began in late December over economic grievances and evolved into a challenge to the government, resulting in thousands of deaths according to human rights organizations. The IRGC, a branch of Iran's military, operates independently and plays a significant role in Iran's defense and foreign operations.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Human Rights Activists News Agency 35% Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 40% United States 50% Kaja Kallas 55% Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf 60% European Union ×280% Iran ×690% Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ×595%

Keywords

terrorist designation 90% iran 80% european union 80% islamic revolutionary guard corps 80% retaliatory move 70% protests 60% human rights 60% military 50% foreign policy 40%