EU to Sanction Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Amid Protests
BRUSSELS — On Thursday, the European Union took steps to impose sanctions on Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in response to Tehran’s violent repression of protests across the nation. This situation adds further tension, particularly with concerns regarding a potential military attack on Iran by U.S. President Donald Trump.
The United States has repositioned the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln along with several missile destroyers to the Middle East, potentially preparing for military actions from the sea. Meanwhile, Iran has also expressed its readiness to retaliate, claiming it could launch a preemptive strike targeting various spots in the region, including U.S. military bases and Israel.
It’s tough to say what President Trump will ultimately decide regarding military action; though he has suggested he might react forcefully to the killings of peaceful protesters and the looming threat of mass executions. Activists report that the death toll from the protests has climbed to at least 6,373.
With Iran’s economy already reeling under existing international sanctions, new sanctions from the EU—which have been discussed for years—would intensify pressure on the nation. On Thursday, the Iranian currency hit a record low of 1.6 million rials against the dollar, a marker of the economic strain that triggered protests challenging the ruling theocracy even before the crackdown began.
Kaja Callas, the EU’s leading diplomat, indicated to reporters there is a “high probability” that sanctions will be enacted.
“This places them in the same category as al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Daesh,” Karas stated, referencing the Arabic term for the Islamic State. “If you behave like a terrorist, you should be treated as one.”
Iran has not responded immediately but has recently criticized Europe for contemplating these actions after the U.S. had already sanctioned its defense forces.
According to EU regulations, all 27 member states must agree on sanctions, which has previously complicated efforts to apply economic pressure on Russia for its actions in Ukraine.
Initially, France had resisted designating the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization, fearing it might jeopardize the safety of French citizens in Iran and undermine diplomatic relations. However, President Emmanuel Macron’s office indicated support for the sanctioning decision as of Wednesday.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrault expressed during a meeting in Brussels that France backs further sanctions, stating that “the crimes committed have gone unpunished.” He added, “In Iran, we cannot allow the intolerable repression of the peaceful uprising of the Iranian people to continue.”
The Revolutionary Guards were established during Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution as a military force aimed at protecting the clerical government and were later embedded in the constitution. They operate alongside the regular army and gained prominence during the lengthy and destructive Iran-Iraq War. After that conflict, they were on the brink of dissolution until Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei expanded their influence by backing private enterprises.
The Basij militia, a volunteer force, likely played a significant role in quelling the protests, which surged initially on January 8, coinciding with an internet shutdown that affected Iran’s 85 million citizens. Videos shared via Starlink and other platforms show military personnel allegedly attacking protesters.
However, sanctioning the Revolutionary Guards is complex. In Iran, military service is mandatory for men when they reach 18, resulting in many being drafted into the Guards regardless of their political views.
On Wednesday, the Human Rights Defenders News Agency reported alarming figures, stating that at least 6,373 individuals had died amidst the unrest, including around 5,993 protesters, 214 state-associated forces, 113 children, and 53 civilians unrelated to the demonstrations. Additionally, more than 42,450 arrests were documented.
The organization relies on a network of local Iranian activists to validate each casualty and detainment. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify the death toll due to internet restrictions and hindered communication lines in Iran complicating the collection of information about the crackdown’s full impact.
As of January 21, the Iranian government claimed the death count was considerably lower, at 3,117, categorizing 2,427 as civilians or security personnel and labeling the remainder as “terrorists.” Historically, Iran’s authorities have often downplayed or failed to disclose complete casualty figures from such uprisings.
The reported death toll exceeds that of previous protests and riots in recent decades, drawing comparisons to the turmoil surrounding the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
