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Iranian Revolutionary Guardsmen during an exercise in October 2022
Photo: - / AFP
According to a media report, the EU's foreign service has come to the conclusion that the Union cannot simply classify the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization.
For example, a national court decision or a prohibition order from an administrative authority is necessary for the inclusion of an organization on the EU terror list, said a spokeswoman at the request of the German Press Agency.
"This means that the EU level cannot act alone without such a national decision," she added.
The national decision must also relate to acts that fall under the Union law definition of the term "terrorist acts".
The European Parliament had previously passed a resolution calling for the Revolutionary Guards and their auxiliary troops to be placed on the EU terror list.
In addition, the parliamentarians spoke out in favor of enacting EU punitive measures such as entry bans and asset freezes against President Ebrahim Raisi and Head of State Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
EU foreign ministers want to adopt new sanctions
The foreign ministers of the EU states want to formally adopt new sanctions on Iran next Monday at a meeting in Brussels.
According to an advance agreement, they will meet around three dozen people and organizations involved in the brutal crackdown on nationwide protests following the death of 22-year-old Jina Mahsa Amini.
Exactly who will be sanctioned is still a secret.
However, it is clear that the Revolutionary Guard cannot initially be put on the EU terror list.
Another argument against classifying the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization is that such a step could further reduce the already slim chances of a continuation of the nuclear deal with Iran.
This is intended to persuade Tehran to permanently renounce the development of nuclear weapons.
The trigger for the nationwide protests in Iran was the death of the Iranian Kurd Jina Mahsa Amini.
She died in police custody on September 16 after being arrested by the Morality Police for breaking the Islamic dress code.
Since her death, protests against the repressive government and the Islamic system of rule have put the political leadership under more pressure than it has been in decades.
kko/dpa