NEW YORK – Following the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization by the 27 foreign ministers of the European Union, the World Jewish Congress released the following statement:
“The World Jewish Congress welcomes the consensus decision by the 27 foreign ministers of the European Union to designate and list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, a long overdue step that reflects the reality of the grave threat posed by the Iranian regime to EU security, regional stability, and democratic societies worldwide. For years, we have warned that the IRGC is the engine behind Iran’s system of state-sponsored terrorism and the primary instrument through which Tehran exports violence, extremism and repression far beyond its borders.
“Through its extensive network of proxies, the IRGC has enabled and directed attacks against Jewish communities, EU and international interests, and countless innocent civilians across the Middle East and beyond. At the same time, it has played a leading role in the brutal repression of peaceful protests inside Iran, carrying out serious human rights violations and demonstrating complete contempt for fundamental freedoms and international law.
“This designation will trigger asset freezes and travel bans, placing the IRGC alongside terrorist entities such as al-Qaeda and Islamic State under the EU’s sanctions regime. It sends a tangible message that the European Union will no longer tolerate the export of terrorism and repression from Tehran. This step must now be matched by strong and consistent enforcement, including the dismantling of the IRGC’s financial and operational networks within the EU, so that this decision delivers real consequences and meaningful protection for European citizens, Jewish communities, and democratic societies worldwide.”
About the World Jewish Congress
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cory.weiss@wjc.org
