The EU is exploring legal options to designate Iran’s Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organisation, in a big policy shift that would risk ending any hopes of restoring an international agreement aimed at preventing Tehran from developing the capacity to produce a nuclear weapon.
The move, which has the support of France and Germany — both parties to an international nuclear agreement with Iran — comes in response to Tehran’s supply of armed drones to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine, along with its violent crackdown on domestic protests.
Paris and Berlin voiced their support for the measure in a meeting of foreign ministers last week, four officials with knowledge of the discussions told the Financial Times. The EU’s legal service will draft an opinion for the bloc’s 27 capitals on the legality of the measure within the next three weeks.