Iran parliament speaker says European armies ‘terrorist’ under Iranian law

TEHRAN — Iran’s parliament speaker said Sunday that the armed forces of European countries are considered “terrorist organizations” under Iranian law. He warned that the European Union would bear responsibility for the consequences of its decision to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group, according to Fars news agency.Speaking during a parliamentary session, Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said that “under Article 7 of the Law on Countering the Designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a Terrorist Organization, the armies of European countries are considered terrorist groups.”“The consequences of this action will be the responsibility of the European Union,” he added.During the session, Iranian lawmakers wore uniforms of the IRGC in a symbolic show of support, in response to what they described as a “hostile action” by the EU.Ghalibaf criticized what he called the EU’s “irresponsible move” to label the IRGC a terrorist organization, saying the decision was taken “in line with the directives of the U.S. president, Donald Trump, and leaders of the Zionist regime.” He said the move “has accelerated Europe’s marginalization in the future global order.”He also accused what he described as supporters of Zionism of waging “media-driven psychological warfare” aimed at intimidating Iran and other independent countries, stressing that “the Iranian people consider the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as part of themselves.”Ghalibaf said the IRGC has played a key role in ensuring national security and supporting the public during crises, including natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, reconstruction efforts and poverty alleviation.“These kinds of attacks,” he said, “will only strengthen social cohesion and public support for the IRGC in defending Iran’s national dignity and security.”The remarks came after EU foreign ministers reached a political agreement on Thursday to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. The move was announced by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who said it was taken in response to what she described as repression by Iranian authorities.Tensions have escalated in recent weeks between Tehran and Washington following comments by U.S. President Trump that a “massive armada” of American forces was moving toward Iran, alongside renewed calls for Tehran to enter negotiations.Iranian officials have warned that any U.S. attack would prompt a “swift and comprehensive” response, while reiterating that Tehran remains open to talks only under what it describes as “fair, balanced and noncoercive terms.”