EU Implements New Sanctions on Iran

Yesterday, the European Union implemented sanctions on over 30 Iranian individuals and organizations, including leaders and subunits in Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (irgc). The irgc is Tehran’s “offensive military,” exporting Islamic revolution worldwide.

The European Parliament voted in a nonbinding decision last week urging member states to sanction the irgc itself as a terrorist organization. Josep Borrell, the EU’s top diplomat, said this could only happen if a court judged the irgc as a terrorist group. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is in favor of the move.

A pushback: The latest developments follow recent terror investigations in Europe linked to Iran (read “Is Iran Planning WMD Attacks in Europe?”). Although Europe has viewed Iran as an unsavory regime for years, it has refused to antagonize Tehran. This is starting to change. With more and more provocative Iranian “pushes,” Europe is compelled to finally push back.