Iran Labels European Armies ‘Terrorist Groups’ in Tit-for-Tat Move

• Iran declared European armies as “terrorist groups” in response to the EU designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization.
• The move was announced by Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, citing Article 7 of Iran’s countermeasures law.
• The EU’s decision stemmed from the IRGC’s role in violently repressing nationwide protests, as stated by Kaja Kallas.
• Protests, initially over economic grievances, led to thousands of deaths, with varying figures from human rights groups and Iranian authorities.
• The IRGC, central to Iran’s security and foreign policy, operates under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and is conducting military drills in the Strait of Hormuz.

Why It Matters: Iran retaliates against the EU's IRGC designation by labeling European armies as terrorist groups, escalating tensions.