Ukraine Designates Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as Terrorist Organization
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Monday that Ukraine has officially recognized Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, following actions taken by the United States and the European Union.
During a speech that evening, Zelensky noted that this decision aligns Ukraine with the EU’s stance. He mentioned that the IRGC had been labeled as a terrorist organization just last Thursday by the US, which had previously designated the group as a foreign terrorist organization in 2019.
“Currently, the European procedure is underway. We in Ukraine have already taken this decision and designated this organization as a terrorist, and for us, this matter is over,” he stated.
He further remarked, “The whole world is watching what is happening in Iran, how many people have been killed, and how the Iranian regime is contributing to the spread of war and violence in the region and the world.”
Zelensky also emphasized, “Ukraine has not forgotten a single one of the thousands of Shaheds who attack our cities, villages, and people.”
He concluded by insisting, “All terrorists around the world deserve the same treatment and condemnation. No one should emerge victorious.”
Shahed refers to a series of Iranian-made kamikaze drones that Russia has utilized as weapons against Ukraine. Initially, Russia denied acquiring these drones from Iran, claiming its own production. However, this narrative changed when NATO countries began targeting Shahed drones that were illegally over their airspace.
It’s reported that hundreds of Shahed drones have been involved in attacks on Ukraine, often combined with domestically produced models known as Guerlain.
The appeal of the Shahed design for Russia lies in its low cost, estimated at just $20,000 each, using a plywood fuselage. Iran had stockpiled many of these drones for sale early in the invasion, while Ukraine showcased its drone advantage over Russia.
According to the Ukrainian military, Russia has deployed over 8,000 Shahed drones during the invasion and is now producing hundreds daily.
On January 30, Ukraine’s security agency SBU announced that the Revolutionary Guards were officially designated as a terrorist organization.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar praised Zelensky’s announcement, labeling it “an important diplomatic and moral decision against terrorism, repression, and freedom.”
Meanwhile, the Iranian regime reacted angrily to the EU’s decision, which aligned with the US designation of the IRGC. On Sunday, Iranian parliament members in Revolutionary Guard uniforms protested, claiming the IRGC is “the world’s largest anti-terrorist organization” and shouted slogans against the US and Israel.
Iranian lawmakers stated that the nation would now consider the armed forces of all EU countries as “terrorists.” On the same day, Iranian officials summoned EU ambassadors to express strong discontent with the label of the IRGC as a terrorist organization, calling the decision “unjust and irresponsible.”
