Iran says Europe owes security to IRGC’s anti-terrorism fight; blacklisting violates UN charter

Iran has reiterated that the European Union’s plan to designate the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terror group violates the UN Charter, saying Europe enjoys security due to the elite defense force's decisive fight against terrorist groups.

Imposing sanctions on the IRGC is “a clear violation of the UN Charter,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani said at a press conference on Monday.

He said Europe itself enjoys security thanks to the IRGC’s anti-terror efforts in Syria and Iraq.             

The European Parliament on Wednesday adopted an amendment calling on the EU and its member states to include the IRGC on their terror list. It also passed another resolution on Thursday, calling for more sanctions against Iranian individuals and entities and putting the IRGC on the EU terrorist list over alleged human rights violations during the recent riots.

Kan’ani said Iran has dismissed the resolution as an “irresponsible and illogical” move.

He noted that “The Europeans have been given necessary warnings,” referring to a phone call held between Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and the European Union’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell as well as related talks held between Iran’s top diplomat and the foreign minister of Sweden, which holds the presidency of Council of the European Union.

The EU plan aims to restrict “a great anti-terror force”, he said, vowing an “appropriate” response to any “reckless” action by European countries.

Iran mulls exiting NPT, expelling IAEA inspectors after European Parliament’s anti-IRGC vote

Iran says its withdrawal from the NPT and discharging the IAEA inspectors are among possible reciprocal responses to the European Parliament’s vote against the IRGC.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Kan’ani touched upon the talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, saying the absence of new rounds of talks “does not mean the absence of interaction or exchange of messages and views.” He noted that the talks serve the interests of both sides.

The spokesman, meanwhile, stressed that there are no direct talks between Tehran and Washington.

The negotiations to restore the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) kicked off in the Austrian capital of Vienna in April 2021, with the intention of examining Washington’s seriousness in rejoining the deal and removing anti-Iran sanctions.

The negotiations have been at a standstill since August due to Washington’s insistence on its hard-nosed position of not removing all the sanctions that were slapped on the Islamic Republic by the previous US administration.

Iran maintains it is necessary for the other side to offer some guarantees that it will remain committed to any agreement that is reached.

'Hostile US actions'

Commenting on US support for the recent riots in Iran, Kan’ani said Washington has always adopted "non-constructive and destructive" policies toward Iran, the Islamic Republic and the Iranian nation.

He further said that the “hostile” actions of the US government, particularly the unilateral sanctions imposed on Iran, “have inflicted massive damage on Iran’s government and nation.”

He added that the “unjust” US sanctions are a clear example of “crimes against humanity.”

Regarding the issue of exchange of prisoners between Iran and the US, Kan’ani said the two sides reached agreements in this regard, but Washington has tied the issue to the revival talks of the JCPOA.

“Iran is seriously keen that necessary measures be taken so Iranian prisoners held in US jails who have been arrested on baseless accusations and pretexts, including bypassing the US’ unjust sanctions imposed on the Iranian nation, can be freed as soon as possible,” Kan’ani added.

Borrell: No blacklisting without court ruling

Meanwhile, the EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc cannot blacklist the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps without a court ruling.

Borrell said, "It is something that cannot be decided without a court, a court decision first. You cannot say I consider you a terrorist because I don't like you."

He said a court in an EU member state has to issue a concrete legal condemnation before the bloc can take action against the IRGC.

Borrell made the remarks as he arrived at the venue where EU foreign ministers are due to discuss sanctions on Iran, over its alleged rights violations. The EU foreign policy chief earlier also downplayed the resolution by the European Parliament against the IRGC.

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