Iran Summons EU Ambassadors After Bloc Labels Revolutionary Guard a Terror Group

Iran on Monday summoned ambassadors from all European Union member states to protest the bloc’s decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, sharply escalating diplomatic tensions at a time of heightened regional strain.

The move came as Turkey attempted to broker renewed talks between the United States and Iran, with Ankara pushing for a meeting between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian officials. Two Turkish officials said the effort is aimed at reviving dialogue and reducing the risk of US military action against Tehran.

The United States has meanwhile reinforced its military presence in the region. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier and several guided-missile destroyers have been deployed to the Middle East, though it remains unclear whether President Donald Trump intends to authorise the use of force. Regional governments have continued diplomatic outreach in parallel.

“Trump is trying to calibrate a response to Iran’s mass killing of protesters that punishes Iranian leaders without dragging the United States into another prolonged conflict,” the New York-based Soufan Center said in an assessment released Monday.

EU Decision Sparks Strong Reaction in Tehran

The 27-nation EU agreed last week to list the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group, citing its role in the violent crackdown on nationwide protests in January. The unrest left thousands dead and tens of thousands detained, according to rights groups.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the process of summoning EU ambassadors began on Sunday and continued into Monday. He warned that Tehran was weighing retaliatory steps.

“We believe a decision on reciprocal action will be taken in the coming days,” Baghaei told reporters.

Iran’s parliamentary speaker went further, declaring that the Islamic Republic now considers all EU militaries to be terrorist organisations, referencing a 2019 law. The European Commission said it was keeping diplomatic channels open with Tehran despite the tension and urged restraint to avoid military escalation.

Other countries, including the United States and Canada, have previously designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. While largely symbolic, the EU move adds to mounting economic and political pressure on Iran.

Crackdown, Sanctions and Regional Maneuvering

Formed after Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, the Revolutionary Guard was created to safeguard the clerical system of government and later became enshrined in the constitution. Over time, it has grown into a powerful parallel force to Iran’s regular military, expanding deep into business and industry.

Its Basij militia is widely believed to have played a central role in suppressing the recent protests, particularly after authorities shut down internet and international communications in early January. Videos shared via satellite links show armed men beating and shooting demonstrators.

On Monday, the UK joined several other countries in sanctioning Iran’s interior minister and nine additional officials over their alleged roles in the crackdown. The measures include asset freezes and travel bans.

Turkey, meanwhile, has been quietly working to restart diplomatic engagement. One Turkish official said the goal was to arrange talks between Witkoff and Iranian representatives in Ankara by the end of the week, if possible. Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Witkoff met several times last year in Rome and Oman during negotiations over Iran’s nuclear programme, though no agreement was reached. Those talks collapsed after Israel launched a series of strikes on Iran on June 13, triggering a 12-day conflict that also saw the US bomb three Iranian nuclear sites.

Baghaei declined to comment on whether talks would take place in Turkey, and Washington has not publicly responded to reports of possible negotiations.

Strait of Hormuz Drills and Rising Tensions

Baghaei confirmed that Revolutionary Guard exercises in the Strait of Hormuz were underway according to schedule. The narrow waterway handles about a fifth of the world’s traded oil. Iran had warned shipping last week that drills would be conducted, though it had not previously acknowledged their start.

The US Central Command issued a warning urging Iran not to harass US forces or disrupt commercial shipping. Satellite images analysed by the Associated Press showed small, fast-moving vessels — typically used by the Guard — operating between Iran’s Qeshm and Hengam islands, away from major shipping lanes.

Asked whether Iran could face war, Baghaei sought to reassure the public. “Don’t worry at all,” he said, while declining to address whether Washington had set any deadline for Tehran to respond to US demands.

Media Scrutiny and Human Rights Toll

Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported that prosecutors in Tehran have filed charges against senior staff of the Ofogh television channel after a programme mocked victims of the crackdown. The broadcast made light of allegations that authorities were hiding bodies, prompting public outrage.

Human rights groups estimate the crackdown has killed at least 6,848 people and led to nearly 50,000 arrests. Iran’s government has put the death toll much lower, at 3,117, though it recently published a list of nearly 3,000 names — an unusual step that suggests growing scrutiny.

As diplomatic pressure, military posturing and regional mediation efforts converge, Iran’s standoff with the EU and the West shows little sign of easing.