The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said today, Tuesday, that she supports the inclusion of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards on the list of terrorist organizations in response to the “violation” of human rights in Iran.
Relations between European Union member states and Tehran have deteriorated in the past few months as efforts to revive the nuclear deal falter.
Tehran has arrested a number of European citizens on charges of spying or inciting protests once morest the government, while the European Union is increasingly criticizing the “ongoing campaign of violence once morest demonstrators in Tehran, which included the execution of some of them.”
“The Iranian regime’s reaction to the opposition demonstrations is terrible and appalling,” von der Leyen told reporters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos, stressing that the Iranian security services violate basic human rights.
The European Union is discussing a fourth round of sanctions on Tehran for its treatment of demonstrators and its supply of weapons to Russia. Diplomatic sources said members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards would be added to the sanctions list next week.
However, some member states called on the union to designate the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Britain is expected to decide on this matter in the coming weeks.
New penalties
“We are already considering a new round of sanctions and I will also support the inclusion of the Revolutionary Guards (on the list of terrorist organizations). I have heard many ministers asking for this and I think they are right,” von der Leyen said.
Anti-government protests erupted following the death of a young woman of Kurdish origin, Mahsa Amini, in September, following the morality police detained her for allegedly not wearing decent clothes.
Iran’s leaders have vowed to crack down on the protesters, whom they describe as troublemakers, and have accused enemies including the United States and Europe of fueling the unrest.
In an interview with Archyde.com, Finnish Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto said the “horrific” death penalty, the faltering Iran nuclear deal and the supply of drones and weapons to Russia all needed a tougher response.
He added that it is important that our response be strong. But he acknowledged the existence of a debate among the European Union member states over the sanctions and designation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a “terrorist organization”.