EU parliament calls for more curbs on Iran

BRUSSELS: European lawmakers adopted a resolution on Thursday calling for more sanctions against all Iranian individuals and entities responsible for human right violations and also voted for the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be designated as a terrorist entity.

“Iranian authorities must end crackdown on their own citizens. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Ebrahim Raisi should be added to the sanctions list,” the European Parliament said in a statement.

“The Iranian regime’s blatant disregard for human dignity and the democratic aspirations of its own citizens as well as its support to Russia “necessitate further adjustments in the European Union’s (EU) position towards Iran,” the adopted resolution said.

Iran warned earlier that the European Union would “shoot itself in the foot” if it designated the Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity.

On Wednesday, the European Parliament called for the EU to list the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation, blaming it for the repression of domestic protesters and the supply of drones to Russia’s military for use in Ukraine.

Iran condemned the move.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-abdollahian “strongly criticised the emotional approach of the European Parliament and labelled the move inappropriate and incorrect,” in a phone call with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

Amir-abdollahian called the resolution from Wednesday “harsh and unprofessional” and warned the EU must “think about the negative consequences of this emotional behaviour.”

The General Staff of the Armed Forces, Iran’s most senior military body which oversees both the Guards and regular army, warned the move “will affect regional and global security, tranquility and peace, and the European Parliament should be careful about its consequences.”

Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi also weighed in, calling the European Parliament’s move an act of “desperation.”