Several European Countries Seeking to Designate IRGC as a 'Terrorist Organization'

Several European countries, including Germany, are pressuring the European Union to include the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the EU's list of terrorist organizations based on a ruling from a German court. On Monday, June 7, the German news agency reported, citing European diplomats, that Germany, along with other countries, has asked EU legal officials to review a Düsseldorf court ruling indicating that a state entity of Iran was responsible for a fire at a synagogue. The Düsseldorf court issued its ruling last December following an attack on a synagogue in Bochum, Germany. At that time, a German-Iranian was sentenced to a total of two years and nine months in prison for conspiracy and attempting to commit arson. The Düsseldorf court stated that this attack was designed with the assistance of 'Iranian state organizations.' EU diplomats told the German news agency that the EU legal services confirmed that this ruling could provide sufficient grounds for listing the IRGC as a terrorist organization. The German news agency reported that this action was learned on the sidelines of the EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels. Germany summoned the Iranian ambassador regarding the attack on a Jewish synagogue. Based on received information, following an analysis by the EU legal service, several member countries now support the idea of initiating the necessary processes to list the IRGC. Annalena Baerbock, Germany's foreign minister, has repeatedly stated her agreement with this classification. Israelis have long urged the EU to declare the IRGC a terrorist organization, and according to the German news agency, the Düsseldorf court ruling has taken a difficult and important step. Designating a branch of the Iranian armed forces as a terrorist organization under EU law has been a challenge so far, as the IRGC must first be prosecuted by a country in the EU for terrorist activities. These classification issues became more evident following Iran's direct attack on Israel with drones and missiles in April. Until recently, the EU's foreign action service, the diplomatic arm of the EU, was uncertain whether the Düsseldorf court ruling could serve as a basis for this classification. Josep Borrell, the EU's foreign policy chief, has so far opposed listing the IRGC as a terrorist organization. One reason for this is the effort to persuade Iran to revive the JCPOA to limit its nuclear program. Diplomats emphasized on Monday that designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization would primarily be a symbolic step, as the EU has already sanctioned this force. Yi-Wan Ri, a member of the German parliament and political sponsor of Tomaj Salehi, welcomed this action in a tweet, stating that this is 'good news' and added that 'this happened because of your tireless efforts.' He stated: 'We see your struggle, we stand with you, but remember: the EU must vote unanimously on this issue.' Hannah Neumann, a member of the German parliament and representative of Germany in the European Parliament, also tweeted that the Düsseldorf court ruling is sufficient for listing the IRGC as a terrorist organization. She addressed Josep Borrell, saying 'there is no longer an excuse,' and urged the German foreign minister to pursue this case.