Dimensions of Classifying the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist entity

The Iranian Revolutionary Guard was founded in the aftermath of the Iranian revolution in 1979, by a decision of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Imam Khomeini, with the aim of protecting the emerging regime and creating a kind of balance of power with the regular armed forces.

After the fall of the Shah, the new authorities realized that they needed a large force that would be committed to the goals of the new regime and to defending the “values ​​and principles of the revolution.” The leaders of the revolution drafted a new law that includes both the regular military forces, which is entrusted with the task of defending the country’s borders and maintaining internal security; and the Revolutionary Guards (Pasdaran) forces which are tasked with protecting the ruling regime.

However, the roles of the two forces overlapped, as the Revolutionary Guard also carries out tasks of helping to maintain public order, and constantly enhances its military, naval, and Air Force power. As such, it turned into a major military, political, and economic force in Iran.

Following the integration of the "Basij" forces (draftees) into the Revolutionary Guard, the Guard's strategy was modified based on the directives of the Supreme Leader; and “its main mission, according to Iranian officials, became confronting the threats of internal enemies first, and helping the army to confront external threats."

The number of personnel of the Revolutionary Guard is estimated at about 125,000. It has ground forces, in addition to naval and air units. Furthermore, it supervises Iran’s strategic weapons. There are also the “Basij” forces, which are known as the Popular Mobilization Forces. Those are affiliated with the Revolutionary Guard and include about 90,000 men and women. Some estimates indicate that the "Basij" has the ability to mobilize about a million volunteers when necessary. One of the main tasks of the "Basij" is to "confront anti-regime activities inside the country."

As for the Quds Corps , it is one of the arms of the Revolutionary Guards, and it carries out sensitive missions abroad, such as providing weapons and training to groups close to Iran in various countries of the world. Its role has clearly and strongly transpired in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon since 2003 until now. The Revolutionary Guard has an influential presence in various embassies and diplomatic Iranian missions in the world, which helps it carry out intelligence missions on the one hand, and support Iran's allies on the other hand.

The Revolutionary Guard reports directly to the Supreme Leader of the Iranian Revolution, as he is the supreme commander of the armed forces in the country. They control about 35% (according to some unofficial estimates) of the Iranian economy, through its control of many institutions, charitable funds, and companies in many sectors. and activities.

In light of these considerations, and in light of the role that the R. Guard played in confronting the protests that took place in Iran after the killing of "Mahsa Amini" on September 16, 2022, the foreign ministers of the European Union countries approved a new package of sanctions against Iran, and they also discussed the possibility of classifying the Revolutionary Guards as a "terrorist entity." Moreover, the foreign policy official in the European Union stated that the Iranian Revolutionary Guards cannot be included in the list of terrorist entities unless there is a court decision in one of the European Union states..

The German Foreign Minister said: Berlin welcomes the efforts made by the leaders of the European Union to include the Revolutionary Guards in the list of terrorist organizations. She added, "We still see in Iran a brutal regime against its own people. The Iranian regime and the Revolutionary Guards terrorize their people day after day."

In contrast to these statements, a spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that his country informed the foreign policy official of the European Union of its rejection of the European Parliament’s decision to include the Revolutionary Guards on the terrorist lists, adding that any action against the Revolutionary Guards “is a direct threat to Iranian national security”; and that Tehran’s response will be proportionate with ith any action taken by the European Union.

For his part, the commander of the Revolutionary Guard said: If the European countries decide to take negative measures against the Revolutionary Guards, the Iranian response will make them regret it. The Iranian parliament speaker said: The American sanctions on Iran and Russia are considered the main threat at present. Such pressures require joint action and strategic interaction to overcome this phase

Within the framework of the mutual statements and reactions, it can be said: European thinking regarding the classification of the Guard is linked to many considerations, the first of which is: increasing pressure on the Iranian regime for political reform and supporting the Iranian opposition, whose presence has escalated during the past five months in light of the wave of protests, arrests, killings and executions protesters have been subjected to.

The second: putting pressure on Iran in many regional and international files, such as: the Iranian role in the Ukrainian war, “Iranian-Russian” relations, “Iranian-Chinese” relations, the Iranian role in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, and the Iranian nuclear file crisis.

On the other hand, classifying the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist group would criminalize belonging to the group or supporting it; and thus imposing sanctions on everyone who belongs to it, and freezing their assets in the countries in which it was put on the list of terrorism. No citizen or company there will be allowed to donate to it; which means opening an arena of open confrontation between countries that will classify it or Iran as a terrorist entity.

On the other hand, there is great skepticism that the operations of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard abroad could be affected; because Iran has actually been subject to blockade and sanctions for years, and it has acquired a great ability to manage the burdens of this blockade and those sanctions. Therefore some argue that the classification will remain a symbolic measure, without having real consequences on the R. Guard, which has gained influence and wide networks in many countries, and through many allies with different facades and names, which constitutes a real obstacle to considering classification as a threat to it.

The classification would also widen the gap between Iran and European countries, and thus prompt it to strengthen and consolidate its partnerships with both Russia and China, which is not ultimately in the interest of Europe and the United States at this stage in which the repercussions, challenges and developments of the Ukrainian war are growing.