Iran: UK considering designating Revolutionary Guards as terrorist organization, minister says

A British minister said the United Kingdom is considering designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. However, there has yet to be a final decision on the matter.

British foreign office minister Leo Docherty told parliament on Thursday that there is an active consideration for London to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Docherty’s comments came amidst a debate in parliament on the current situation in Iran. Some lawmakers have called for making the designation.

“It would be wrong of me to speculate…about the outcome of the government’s current situation of this issue, which is active,” said Docherty. “But I can say that I think the calls right across the house, and the unity in which these calls are being made on all sides will be noted by the government and this is something that we regard as extremely serious.”

Designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization would mean it would be a criminal offense in the UK to be a member of the group, attend its meetings, and carry its symbol in public. The IRGC is already subject to British sanctions.

The UK’s consideration also comes amidst comments by the French foreign ministry spokesperson Anne-Claire Legendre, who told reporters during a daily briefing that France has not ruled out the notion of the European Union designating the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist group.

The bloc is currently discussing issuing a fourth round of sanctions on Iran over the clerical government’s crackdown on the ongoing protests and the alleged supply of weapons to Russia. Some EU member countries have already called for the bloc to make the designation. While France has been hesitant, the door was left open to do so after the recent executions of individuals convicted of protest-related charges and the closer cooperation between Tehran and Moscow.

“Given the continuation of this repression, France is working with its European partners on new sanctions measures, without excluding any,” Legendre told reporters.

Legendre’s comments follow that of German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock’s comments on Monday, saying that making such a designation of the Revolutionary Guards is “politically important and makes sense.”