ROME: Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has signaled a significant shift in Rome’s stance towards Iran’s Revolutionary Guard (IRGC). Previously resistant to designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization, Italy is now pushing its European Union partners to take this action. According to Tajani, recent violent crackdowns on street protests in Iran, which reportedly resulted in thousands of deaths, necessitate a clear and immediate response.
Tajani highlighted that “the losses suffered by the civilian population during the protests require a clear response.” He will raise this issue at an upcoming meeting of EU foreign ministers scheduled for Thursday in Brussels. Tajani proposed that Italy collaborate with its European Union partners to include the Revolutionary Guards on the list of terrorist organizations, alongside sanctions against individuals responsible for these heinous acts.
A designation as a terrorist group would lead to legal, financial, and diplomatic restrictions, severely impacting the IRGC’s operations within Europe. The IRGC is a significant part of Iran’s economy and armed forces, overseeing the country’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs since its formation after the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Previously, some EU members had supported listing the IRGC, while others were concerned it might harm diplomatic relations with Iran, hinder nuclear negotiations, and put EU nationals detained in the country at risk. However, Tajani stressed that Iran’s recent crackdowns have rekindled the debate over this issue. The IRGC is already included under the EU’s human rights sanctions regime; Italy now seeks to add them to the terrorist list.
EU diplomats stated earlier this month during a Brussels meeting that Italian, French, and Spanish officials raised concerns about this proposal. If France continues to object, efforts to sanction the IRGC could fail.