European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on Friday that the EU plans to introduce additional sanctions on Iran and expects to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization.
Speaking prior to a gathering of EU foreign affairs ministers, Kallas said: "We are putting new sanctions on Iran and I also expect we will list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist list." The statement frames the move as part of a broader set of measures the bloc is preparing against Iran.
The comments did not include specific information about when the sanctions would take effect or what they would contain. Officials have not released further details on the timing, scope, or legal steps required for the IRGC designation, leaving the exact implementation path unclear.
If enacted, the designation would represent a marked escalation in the EU's approach toward the IRGC, which is described as a powerful branch of Iran's military. The announcement signals a shift in posture but stops short of providing the concrete measures that would follow a formal listing.
Observers and stakeholders will be watching for formal announcements from EU institutions or member-state representatives that would clarify the procedural timeline and the nature of any new restrictions. Until such details are disclosed, the extent and immediate effects of the announced measures remain uncertain.
What we know:
- The EU plans to impose new sanctions on Iran, according to Kaja Kallas.
- Kallas said she expects the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be listed as a terrorist organization.
- No further details were provided on timing or specific measures tied to the announcement.
The announcement was made publicly ahead of a ministerial meeting, but official documentation or a formal decision that would confirm the listing has not been released. As a result, the statement should be treated as an expectation articulated by the EU's foreign policy chief rather than a completed administrative action.