Iran Labels EU Member States’ Naval and Air Forces as Terrorist Organizations

TEHRAN (ANA)- In a reciprocal move, Tehran has designated the naval and air forces of all European Union member states as terrorist organizations, responding to the EU’s earlier classification of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist entity.

News ID : 10665

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced the decision in a formal statement, describing the EU’s February 19, 2026, designation of the IRGC as “unlawful and unjustified.” The statement stressed that the EU action violates the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.

Citing the principle of reciprocity and Iran’s 2019 law on countermeasures against countries following US terrorist designations of the IRGC, the Foreign Ministry said the move applies to all EU member states that support the US position. The law’s provisions, including Article 4, form the legal basis for Tehran’s designation of EU naval and air forces as terrorist organizations.

The statement emphasized that Iran’s decision is a direct response to what it views as an act of aggression against one of its official military pillars and signals Tehran’s commitment to enforcing reciprocal measures against countries that adopt foreign-imposed security classifications.

Analysts say the move is likely to escalate tensions between Iran and EU countries, further complicating diplomatic relations and regional security dynamics, while reinforcing Tehran’s stance on defending its sovereignty and military institutions.