The European measure, adopted last week, is based on the systematic and extremely violent repression of internal protests that have shaken the country for months. As confirmed by the spokesman for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Esmail Baghaei, the round of diplomatic summonses began on Sunday and continued until Monday. "We believe that a decision will be made in the coming days on a reciprocal action by the Islamic Republic of Iran," he stated, leaving the door open for a political and diplomatic escalation with the European bloc. As a first retaliatory gesture, Tehran announced a symbolic countermeasure: the designation of all European Union military personnel as terrorist organizations. A decision, though of little operational impact, seeks to send a direct political signal to Brussels and the main capitals of the continent. The EU's decision adds to similar measures already adopted by the United States and Canada, which for years have considered the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a central actor in terrorist operations, regional destabilization, and systematic human rights violations. "The United States must know that if it starts a war, this time it will be a regional war," he stated, recalling that similar threats have been made in the past. Although Iranian authorities attempted to downplay fears of immediate intervention over the weekend, acknowledging that contacts and negotiations with Washington are ongoing, the combination of European sanctions, U.S. military warnings, and threats of retaliation reinforces a scenario of maximum tension. The European Union's decision to take action against the IRGC marks a turning point in relations with Iran, aligning Brussels with the toughest stance of the United States and its allies, and leaving the Iranian regime increasingly isolated internationally, while the internal crisis and repression continue to deepen. Sources consulted: International agencies Reuters, AFP, Associated Press; European media; Official statements from the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the European case, the immediate trigger was the repression of popular protests, which left thousands dead and tens of thousands detained, according to international organizations and diplomatic sources. Human rights organizations documented at least 6,000 people killed by Iranian security forces, with a leading role for the Revolutionary Guard. Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, warned that any U.S. military action would not be limited to Iran and would escalate into a large-scale regional conflict. However, internal Iranian sources, along with recent statements from European foreign ministers, warn that the actual death toll could exceed 30,000, which would make the repression one of the bloodiest in recent decades in the Middle East. The European hardening and the Iranian response are occurring in parallel with an increase in military and political pressure from Washington. During those meetings, Iranian authorities conveyed their absolute rejection of the European decision, calling it "illegal, unreasonable, and profoundly mistaken," and warned that formal responses are being evaluated in the short term. Baghaei stated that various response alternatives have already been reviewed and presented to the regime's highest decision-making bodies. In recent days, the United States has warned that it does not rule out military action in the face of the slaughter of peaceful protesters and mass executions. In this context, the Pentagon deployed the USS Abraham aircraft carrier to the region along with several guided-missile destroyers, reinforcing its naval presence in strategic waters. Despite this deployment, the U.S. administration maintains an ambiguous message. Donald Trump, President of the United States, stated that the agreement with Iran "is still on the table" and expressed his desire to avoid an armed conflict. "If we don't make a deal, we'll see who was right," he declared to journalists. From Tehran, however, the tone was much more belligerent. "We have the biggest and most powerful ships in the world there, very close, a couple of days away. Hopefully, we will reach an agreement."
