Tehran, 1 February 2026 (dpa/MIA) - Iran now considers European Union militaries to be "terrorist groups," Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said on Sunday, citing 2019 legislation.

It comes after EU foreign ministers decided on Thursday to designate Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization over the bloody crackdown on recent anti-government protests.

The move was considered largely symbolic as the IRGC is already sanctioned by the EU for human rights violations.

"Europe wants to please its master, America, with these measures," was quoted as saying Ghalibaf in parliament by Iranian news agency ISNA.

Videos published by Iranian media showed lawmakers clad in IRGC uniforms in a show of solidarity.

Some were chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel" with raised fists.

Tensions between the US and Iran are running high following Tehran's deadly crackdown on the nationwide protests. US President Donald Trump expressed support for the demonstrations and said he would take "very strong action" against Iran if it executed protesters.

Disputes have since flared over Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes. Trump said this week that "a massive armada is heading to Iran," suggesting he could launch an attack "with speed and violence."

Iran has said it is ready to resume negotiations with the US, while insisting it will maintain full control over its defence capabilities.

The US became the first country worldwide to designate the IRGC as a terrorist group during Trump's first term in 2019.

The Iranian parliament responded by passing a law on countermeasures, including the possibility to classify foreign militaries as terrorist groups.

The IRGC is Iran's elite military force and far superior to the regular army. In recent decades, the force has not only undergone a massive rearmament, but also expanded its social and economic influence – for example, through investments in hotel chains and airlines.

Photo: dpa