Tehran Implements Reciprocal Measures Following EU’s Terrorist Designation of the IRGC

On February 2, 2026, the Islamic Republic of Iran initiated a formal diplomatic protest against the European Union's recent decision to categorize the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. In a swift response, the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned every EU ambassador currently accredited in Tehran to deliver an official note of grievance. This diplomatic maneuver serves as a direct rebuttal to the resolution passed by EU foreign ministers on January 29, 2026, which cited the IRGC’s involvement in quelling the widespread protests that erupted across Iran in January 2026.

Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the summoning of the European diplomats, characterizing the move as merely a "minimal response" to Brussels' actions. Baghaei further indicated that Tehran is actively preparing a series of mirror measures, describing the EU’s designation as "illegal, unsubstantiated, and profoundly erroneous." Preceding this, on February 1, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament and a former IRGC commander, announced that the Islamic Republic would now classify the armed forces of all European Union member states as terrorist entities. This declaration invokes Iran’s 2019 "Countermeasures" law, with Ghalibaf asserting that the European Union must bear the full weight of the consequences resulting from this escalation.

The international reaction to Iran's counter-designation has been one of sharp dismissal. German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul rejected Tehran's claims, labeling them "baseless" and "propaganda." Wadephul maintained that the European Union's decision was a necessary and long-overdue step, justified by the IRGC’s violent actions against domestic protesters and its ongoing destabilizing influence throughout the Middle East. This move by the EU follows similar actions by other Western powers; the United States officially designated the IRGC as a terrorist group in April 2019, while Canada took the same step in June 2024. Kaja Kallas, the head of European diplomacy, emphasized during the January 29 announcement that such levels of state-led repression could not be ignored by the international community.

This intensifying diplomatic friction is unfolding against a backdrop of significant regional military activity involving the United States. The USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike group was redirected from its position in the South China Sea on January 14, 2026, arriving within the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) area of responsibility in the Middle East around January 26 or 27, 2026. This strategic deployment was previously highlighted by U.S. President Donald Trump, who described the increased military presence in the region as a "massive armada," signaling a heightened state of readiness and a potential shift in the regional power balance.

Despite the public exchange of threats, behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts are reportedly still in motion. Turkey, Egypt, and Qatar are currently mediating to facilitate a high-level meeting between Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Envoy, and Iranian government officials. This potential summit is expected to take place in Ankara toward the end of the current week. However, significant hurdles remain, as Tehran continues to demand the total lifting of economic sanctions as a prerequisite for substantive negotiations. Meanwhile, conservative factions within the Iranian political establishment remain steadfast in their refusal to grant concessions regarding the nation’s nuclear program and its extensive ballistic missile arsenal.

Domestically, the Iranian government continues to enforce a hardline stance against any form of dissent. State-controlled media outlets recently reported that a television presenter has been formally charged for mocking the victims of the January crackdowns. The human rights organization HRANA provided a grim assessment of the internal situation, confirming that as of January 31, 2026, a total of 6,713 individuals have lost their lives since the protests began in late December 2025. This internal pressure is coupled with external military posturing, as the IRGC continues to assert its presence in the region through various strategic maneuvers.

In a show of military defiance, the IRGC has confirmed the commencement of large-scale naval exercises in the strategic Strait of Hormuz, disregarding explicit warnings from CENTCOM regarding the potential for dangerous provocations in the vital waterway. The convergence of these events—the terrorist designations, the massive naval deployments, and the staggering domestic death toll—marks one of the most volatile periods in Iran-EU relations in decades. While the proposed talks in Ankara offer a slim hope for de-escalation, the rigid positions held by both the IRGC leadership and Western diplomats suggest that the path toward a resolution remains fraught with difficulty as the "massive armada" led by the USS Abraham Lincoln patrols the region.