EU's Blacklisting of IRGC Desperate, Violates UN Charter: Iran's President
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi condemned the European Parliament's decision to designate the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, adding that the move is motivated by "desperation" on the part of Europeans.
In a cabinet meeting on Thursday, Raisi briefly mentioned a recent amendment to a European Parliament resolution which called on the EU and its member states to include the IRGC on their terror list.
“This move is out of desperation and it comes after their failed attempts on the streets to deal a blow to Iranian people,” he said, referring to the foreign-backed riots that started in Iran in mid-September 2022 after the death of Mahsa Amini.
With such measures, Europe thought it could "stop the Iranian nation," he said.
The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps is an "official force" and a part of the Iranian Armed Forces, Raisi emphasized. "The measure is in violation of international law and the UN Charter," he said.
The remarks come as the European Parliament passed a new resolution on Thursday calling for more sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities, including Raisi, as well as listing the IRGC as a terrorist organization for alleged human rights violations during recent riots.
While this is going on, Iran's intelligence agencies have discovered footprints of American and other Western spy agencies in recent violent riots inside Iran that have claimed the lives of dozens of people and security forces.
Meanwhile, Iran has already warned the EU not to blacklist the IRGC.
In a phone call with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian called the European Parliament's move a "shot in the foot of the EU," adding that Iran's Parliament would respond in a "legal and strong" manner.
He urged the European Parliament to "consider the negative consequences of its emotional behavior and instead focus on the path of diplomacy, constructive interaction, and rationality."
On Thursday, the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces issued a statement stating that the "desperate" call violates all international regulations.
“In addition to being unprecedented in international rules and regulations, the recent move by the European Parliament will affect regional and global security, tranquility and peace, and the European Parliament must be careful about its consequences,” the statement read.
The amendment, which was added to an annual foreign policy report on Wednesday, was approved by a vote of 598 in favor, nine against, and 31 abstentions.
It will request that the IRGC military force, the volunteer Basij force, and the IRGC's Quds Force be blacklisted by Brussels.
It would also target "any economic and financial activity involving businesses and commercial activities related to, wholly or partially owned by, or fronting for, the IRGC or IRGC-affiliated individuals, regardless of their country of operation."
