Iran's Parliament Speaker: "European Militaries are Now 'Terrorist Organizations'"
Iran retaliates against EU's IRGC terror designation by labeling European militaries terrorist organizations as Parliament chants anti-Western slogans.
In a sharp escalation of tensions with the European Union, Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced during a session on Sunday that the armed forces of European countries are now designated as "terrorist organizations" under Iranian law.
This declaration invokes Article 7 of Iran's Law on Countering the Designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a Terrorist Organization, with Ghalibaf warning that the EU would bear responsibility for the consequences.
The move is a direct retaliation to the EU's decision on January 29, 2026, to label the IRGC a terrorist organization, accusing it of violent actions amid Iran's crackdown on protests.
During the session, Iranian lawmakers wore IRGC uniforms in solidarity and chanted slogans such as "Death to America," "Death to Israel," and "Shame on you, Europe."
Ghalibaf accused the EU of "shooting themselves in the foot" by targeting the IRGC, which he described as a barrier against terrorism spreading to Europe, and claimed the decision showed "blind obedience" to the United States.
The immediate impact of Iran's designation remains unclear, though it could involve expelling European military attaches.
Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul slammed the move as "unacceptable," while the broader context includes U.S. threats against Iran and the EU's response to Iran's suppression of protests.