France Calls for EU to Designate Iran’s IRGC as a Terrorist Organization

On January 29, 2025, the French Parliament called for the EU to designate Iran’s IRGC as a terrorist group, condemning Iran’s human rights violations. The IRGC supports terrorism and has been designated by the U.S. as a Foreign Terrorist Organization. The resolution could impede the IRGC’s operations in Europe and was supported by the AJC. Advocacy for this designation continues as a means to enhance global security.

On January 29, 2025, the French Parliament enacted a resolution condemning human rights violations in Iran. This measure urges the European Union to classify Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij forces as terrorist organizations, highlighting systematic human rights abuses within the country. The resolution criticizes Iran’s use of the death penalty, state violence against marginalized groups, and severe restrictions on the freedoms and rights of women.

The IRGC is a significant yet oppressive force in Iran, tasked with protecting the fundamentalist regime. It engages in extensive human rights violations, advances Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear ambitions, and supports anti-Israel and anti-American factions like Hezbollah and Hamas. The U.S. previously labeled the IRGC as a Foreign Terrorist Organization on April 8, 2019, enforcing strict sanctions against it.

The French resolution holds potential implications for EU action. Should the entire EU designate the IRGC as a terrorist entity, it would lead to asset freezes and other prohibitive measures against its members. This would significantly impair the IRGC’s operations within Europe, particularly its activities targeting Iranian dissidents and the Jewish community, and its arms supply to Russia in the Ukraine conflict.

The resolution’s passage was facilitated by French MP Constance Le Grip and garnered support from the American Jewish Committee (AJC). Le Grip, who is part of the AJC’s Transatlantic Friends of Israel initiative, emphasized the importance of collective international efforts to uphold human rights and security.

AJC CEO Ted Deutch praised the resolution, identifying it as a pivotal step towards recognizing the threat posed by the IRGC. He stated, “Glad to see the French Parliament vote in favor of placing the Iranian regime’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the European terrorist list.” Deutch further urged the EU to follow through with official designation of the IRGC.

Looking forward, the AJC continues to advocate for the designation of the IRGC as a terrorist organization by EU member states. Efforts are ongoing to safeguard Jewish communities in Europe and counteract Iran’s involvement in terrorism, emphasizing international cooperation against emerging threats.

The French Parliament’s resolution marks a significant move towards confronting the Iranian regime’s human rights abuses. By seeking to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, it lays the groundwork for similar actions within the EU, potentially freezing IRGC assets and limiting their operations. Continued advocacy by organizations like AJC is vital in pressing for broader international action against terrorism and protecting vulnerable communities.

Original Source: www.ajc.org