European lawmakers want Iranian guards to be branded terror group
BRUSSELS, Jan 18 (Reuters) – The European Parliament on Wednesday called on the EU to list Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization, accusing the powerful force of suppressing protesters and supplying drones to Russia .
Ties between European Union (EU) member states and Tehran have deteriorated in recent months as efforts to revive nuclear talks have stalled. Tehran has detained several European nationals and the bloc has become increasingly critical of a continued violent crackdown on protesters, including executions.
Widespread anti-government protests erupted in Iran in September following the death of young Iranian Kurdish girl Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly flouting a strict dress code imposed on women.
In a text backed by an overwhelming majority of lawmakers, the European Parliament condemned “the brutal crackdown by Iran, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), against protests following the death of Mahsa Amini, following to his violent arrest, abuse and mistreatment”. – treatment by the “morality” of Iran
police'”.
The text called on the EU and its member states to include the IRGC on the bloc’s terrorist list “in light of its terrorist activity, repression of protesters and
its supply of drones to Russia”.
The European Parliament does not have the power to compel the EU to add the IRGC to its list. But the text – contained in an amendment to a resolution, proposed by Polish conservative MP Anna Fotyga – represented a clear political message addressed to Tehran.
Designating the IRGC as a terrorist group would mean that being a part of it would be considered a criminal offense by the EU, and all of its assets in the bloc would be frozen. Nor could it receive funds from EU citizens or businesses.
A total of 598 members of parliament voted in favor of the amendment, while nine voted against and 31 abstained.
Brussels is discussing a fourth round of sanctions against Tehran and diplomatic sources said IRGC members would be added to the EU sanctions list next week.
But some member states have called on the bloc to go further and classify the IRGC as a whole as a terrorist organization. Britain is expected to make such a decision in the coming weeks.
Reporting by Andrew Gray Editing by Alexandra Hudson
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