Nicosia, Cyprus. Iran late on Saturday declared the air force and navy of Cyprus and every other European Union member state to be terrorist organisations, describing the move as retaliation for the EU’s designation of Iran’s Islamic revolutionary guard corps.
Iran’s announcement
Iran said the measure was “reciprocal action in response to the illegal and unjustified decision by EU member states to label the Islamic revolutionary guard corps as a terrorist entity,” adding that the EU decision “contradicts the fundamental principles of the United Nations charter and international law”.
It said the measure was taken within the framework of Iran’s domestic law and in response to what it described as a clear violation of international legal principles by European governments.
EU designation and measures
The EU designated the Islamic revolutionary guard as a terrorist organisation on Thursday, with the Council of the EU, chaired by Cyprus for the first half of the year, formally adopting the designation.
The Council said the group would be subject to restrictive measures under the EU counterterrorism sanctions regime, including the freezing of its funds and other financial assets or economic resources in EU member states, and a prohibition for EU operators to make funds and economic resources available to the group.
European Parliament debate
During a European Parliament debate earlier this month, Cypriot MEP Geadis Geadi of Elam said the barrage of ballistic missiles that hit Israel last year was visible from Cyprus.
He said the situation posed a threat “not only to the Iranian people, but to the entire region, Europe, and western civilisation more broadly,” and referred to mass anti-government protests staged in Iran at the beginning of the year.
He said, “Since the end of 2025, things have got out of hand. Iran is experiencing a popular uprising, with the regime responding with violent repression and mass execution of civilians,” and added that “because history will not forgive those who choose silence in the face of terrorism, as the left defiantly does, we have a duty to stand by the Iranian people in their struggle for freedom and dignity”.
How do you think Iran’s designation will affect relations between the EU and Iran?