European Parliament Condemns Iran’s “Strategic Elimination” of Dissent, Demands Terrorist Designation for Revolutionary Guard
Strasbourg, 22 January 2026 – The European Parliament has adopted a hard-hitting resolution condemning the Iranian regime’s “brutal repression” of protesters, demanding an end to executions and calling for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be fully designated as a terrorist organisation.
The resolution, passed with an overwhelming majority of 562 votes in favour, 9 against, and 57 abstentions, expresses outrage at the “mass murders” being perpetrated against civilians. MEPs declared their full solidarity with the people of Iran and their “brave and legitimate protest movement.”
A “Chilling Shift” in Repression
In the text, MEPs raise the alarm that the killing of thousands of protesters signals a “chilling shift in the Iranian regime’s suppression of dissent from deterrence to strategic elimination.” They unconditionally demanded that authorities under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei:
· Immediately end violence against peaceful protesters.
· Halt all executions.
· Cease the murder and repression of civilians.
· Release all detained protesters, human rights defenders, and journalists.
Sanctions and Terrorist Listing
Parliament issued several concrete demands to the EU Council and member states:
· Proceed without delay in fully designating the IRGC, including its Basij militia and Quds Force, as a terrorist organisation.
· Expand and strictly enforce EU restrictive measures, including asset freezes and visa bans, against all officials and entities responsible for repression.
· Scale up technical and financial support for tools to circumvent internet censorship and counter state-backed cyber manipulation, condemning the regime’s shutdowns used to silence protests.
Accountability and Regional Threat
The resolution highlights Iran’s “decades-long pattern of systematic repression,” particularly targeting women, activists, and dissidents. It reiterated the call for Iran to grant immediate and unhindered access to a UN-mandated fact-finding mission investigating crimes under international law, including murder, torture, rape, and enforced disappearances.
MEPs also condemned Iran’s “malign activities and interference across the region,” stating it constitutes “the largest and most substantial threat to the broader region’s security and stability and the most significant obstacle to peace.”
Condition for Normalisation
Finally, Parliament made any future normalization of EU-Iran relations conditional on “the unconditional release of political prisoners and genuine progress toward democracy and the rule of law.” It welcomed a decision by Parliament President Roberta Metsola to bar Iranian regime representatives from its premises and urged EU member states to follow suit.
Background:
The resolution follows a plenary debate held on 20 January 2026. The text was prepared by the Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET).
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