Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard is a terrorist group, the EU declares, something that is welcomed by Sweden’s Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard.
Brussels – Iran’s powerful Revolutionary Guard is a terrorist group, the EU has determined. A political agreement on the terrorist designation was reached at the EU countries’ foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels on Thursday.
Sweden’s foreign minister Maria Malmer Stenergard welcomes the decision.
“It is a very clear political signal which I believe hurts (the regime), but which also gives important encouragement to the brave Iranian women and men who are now fighting for their freedom and their rights,” she tells TT.
The decision comes after countries such as France, Spain and Italy dropped their opposition to the terrorist designation. They had previously argued that such a move would limit the possibilities for diplomatic contacts with Iran.
The terrorist designation is primarily a symbolic act. In practical terms, there are already EU sanctions in the form of frozen potential assets and a ban on economic cooperation with the Revolutionary Guard.
More such sanctions are now also being introduced. In total, the EU now has sanctions against over 300 individuals and organizations in Iran.
(30 January)
