The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has long been a cornerstone of the Iranian regime’s strategy to destabilize the Middle East and exert global influence. The Revolutionary Guards, designated a terrorist organization by the United States in 2019, continue to operate with impunity in Europe, but the European Union has yet to take similar action.
This inaction has serious implications for global security. Without accountability, the Revolutionary Guards are emboldened to expand their activities, threatening not only the United States and Europe but the broader international order.
Over the past decade, the IRGC’s activities have expanded dramatically. From 2015 to 2024, documented IRGC-related operations outside Iran more than tripled. These operations include supporting proxy wars in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, training extremist groups like Hezbollah, and directing covert intelligence operations in Europe.
These activities clearly indicate a planned escalation by the Revolutionary Guards that directly threatens the security of the United States, Europe, and its allies. However, this is not just a political issue. It’s a humanitarian crisis.
The Revolutionary Guard’s proxy wars and terrorist activities have claimed innocent lives and trapped local families in a cycle of violence and instability. As European governments hesitate, innocent civilians continue to suffer and entire generations are lost to conflicts perpetuated by the Revolutionary Guards.
Revolutionary Guard operations go beyond military involvement. These include cyberattacks, arms trafficking, and other forms of state-sponsored terrorism, all of which destabilize the entire region and fuel war and extremism.
economic decline
Meanwhile, Iran’s economy is in a slump. Despite rising inflation and a deteriorating domestic situation, the regime continues to increase military spending, much of it going to the Revolutionary Guards. This pattern suggests that the regime is prioritizing military expansion and foreign intervention instead of addressing the economic hardships facing its people.
According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, Iran’s military spending nearly doubled from 2021 to 2023, even as inflation exceeded 40% and poverty levels in the country soared. This allocation of resources not only exacerbated Iran’s domestic economic misery, but also financed activities that undermined European security interests.
For example, increased military budgets have enabled the Revolutionary Guards to provide drones and missiles to Russia for use in Ukraine, further destabilizing Europe’s east.
This shift in priorities highlights the regime’s commitment to expanding its influence while ignoring the welfare of its people. The EU needs to understand that Iran’s internal economic difficulties do not limit the Revolutionary Guards’ ability to act. Indeed, military involvement remains the central focus.
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The European Union’s reluctance to designate the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization is often due to procedural and diplomatic concerns. EU officials, including Josep Borrell, argue that such a designation would require a court ruling in an EU member state.
However, this justification is weak given the extensive evidence regarding the terrorist activities of the Revolutionary Guards across Europe. Over the past five years, Revolutionary Guards operatives have been involved in assassination plots, surveillance, and kidnappings in France, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands. The judicial proceedings in these cases have already established the direct involvement of the Revolutionary Guards in acts that meet a reasonable definition of terrorism.
Some EU policymakers have also argued that the designation of the Revolutionary Guards could jeopardize diplomatic efforts, particularly negotiations related to the Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). . This argument ignores the clear role of the Revolutionary Guards as a destabilizing actor that undermines diplomatic norms.
The Revolutionary Guards have demonstrated their disdain for peaceful engagement through assassination attempts, cyberattacks, and the supply of drones to Russia. The EU’s hesitation sends the wrong message that groups with a documented history of terrorist activity can operate with impunity as long as procedural excuses hold.
While concerns about trade disruption are valid, the long-term costs of inaction far outweigh these economic considerations in terms of safety and reliability. Trade between the EU and Iran will reach approximately 4 billion euros in 2023 and remains significant. Exports to Iran, especially from Europe, remain strong, creating an economic incentive to keep diplomatic channels open.
However, this dependence on trade comes at a high cost. The EU needs to recognize that continuing to profit from trade with regimes that incite terrorism and destabilization is unsustainable in the long term. The EU has a responsibility to act decisively for regional security, even if it means challenging short-term corporate interests.
Additionally, the security risks posed by the IRGC are equally significant. European intelligence services have discovered Iranian-backed cells operating within EU borders. These cells are often linked to the IRGC and pose a direct security threat. Some fear that the designation of the Revolutionary Guards will provoke retaliation, but such inaction allows the Revolutionary Guards to continue operating unchecked.
Delaying action against the IRGC will only increase costs for Europe. Working with the United States to designate the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization will strengthen efforts to curb the Islamic Republic’s influence.
It would send a strong message to the world that terrorism will not be tolerated, especially when supported by state actors. If inaction continues, it threatens not only European security but also the broader international order.
To address this growing threat, the EU must take decisive action. First, member states should leverage established networks to counter Iranian-backed cells and increase intelligence sharing with the United States and Israel. Such cooperation would reduce the risk of retaliation and at the same time demonstrate Europe’s commitment to border security.
Second, the EU must economically isolate and sanction the Revolutionary Guards’ financial networks without interfering with legitimate trade. Additionally, Europe needs to strengthen border controls and security measures to prevent further Iranian influence.
A recent ruling by the European Court of Justice makes it easier for the EU to designate the Revolutionary Guards as a terrorist organization. This opportunity must be seized without delay. These measures will limit the growing influence of the Revolutionary Guards and strengthen the international community’s resolve against state-sponsored terrorism.
Dr. Aydin Panahi is an Iranian-American research professor, energy expert, political and human rights activist, and organizer of joint events for the Iranian and Jewish communities in Massachusetts, and co-author of From Boston to Boston with fellow activists. He leads the Iran group. Andrew Galili is a senior policy analyst at the National Democratic Union of Iran.
