{"id":7003,"date":"2026-01-30T17:17:02","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T17:17:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/?p=7003"},"modified":"2026-01-30T18:37:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T18:37:48","slug":"pdki-statement-regarding-the-designation-of-the-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-irgc-as-a-terrorist-organization","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/pdki-statement-regarding-the-designation-of-the-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps-irgc-as-a-terrorist-organization\/","title":{"rendered":"PDKI statement regarding the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization"},"content":{"rendered":"

After years of discussion and debate, the European Union finally decided on Thursday, 29 January 2026, to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. This decision was taken by the foreign ministers of the European Union. Previously, the United States, Canada, Australia, Lithuania, Ecuador, and Paraguay had designated the IRGC in its entirety as a terrorist organization; Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Argentina had also designated the Quds Force, the IRGC\u2019s external military wing, as a terrorist organization.<\/span><\/p>\n

The European Union\u2019s decision, which represents the collective stance of all 27 EU member states, is a response to the violent and bloody suppression of the Iranian people\u2019s uprising during the recent protests, in which thousands of protesting civilians were shot and killed.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was established shortly after the victory of the 1979 Revolution of the peoples of Iran, by order of Khomeini, with the stated aim of protecting the so-called Islamic Revolution. Over the 47 years of the Islamic Republic\u2019s rule, the IRGC has played a central role in suppressing every form of internal protest and uprising in Iran. Abroad, it has assassinated hundreds of political opponents of the regime.<\/span><\/p>\n

The IRGC was among the main forces that, following Khomeini\u2019s fatwa and orders, launched a military assault on Kurdistan, committing hundreds of massacres, thousands of crimes, and grave atrocities there. The bloody Nawroz events in Sanandaj in 1979, the 24-day siege and attack on the city of Sanandaj, the killing and wounding of thousands of civilians, the massacres in the villages of Qarne and Qalatan, and the burning and displacement of residents from dozens of villages and other regions of Kurdistan represent only a small part of the IRGC\u2019s terrorist record in Kurdistan during the early years of its establishment.<\/span><\/p>\n

Over the course of 47 years of IRGC activity, the Kurdish people and the Kurdish movement have borne a disproportionately heavy share of the Islamic Republic\u2019s state terrorism, carried out through the IRGC. Within the Kurdish movement, the PDKI has been at the forefront of confronting this terrorist organization for 47 years. By decision of the highest authorities of the Islamic Republic, the IRGC carried out the assassination of Dr. Abdul Rahman Ghassemlou, Secretary-General of the PDKI, at the negotiating table in Vienna, and later the assassination of Dr. Sadegh Sharafkandi, Secretary-General of the party, along with his colleagues, at the Mykonos restaurant in Berlin.<\/span><\/p>\n

The crimes of the IRGC have not been limited to the suppression of the peoples of Iran. Beyond Iran\u2019s borders, through the Quds Force, the establishment and support of various proxy organizations such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, and direct interference in the internal affairs of regional countries, the IRGC bears responsibility for the killing of hundreds of thousands of people and for causing the displacement of millions from their homes and countries.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) welcomes the European Union\u2019s decision to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Although this decision came late, it is nevertheless a necessary and correct step. It is essential to move toward a day when all those who ordered and carried out the killings and massacres of innocent and defenseless people in Kurdistan, Iran, and the region are brought to justice and held accountable for their crimes in domestic and international courts.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan <\/span><\/p>\n

Executive Committee<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. 30 January 2026<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    After years of discussion and debate, the European Union finally decided on Thursday, 29 January 2026, to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. This decision was taken by the foreign ministers of the European Union. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":6426,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false}}},"categories":[45,39],"tags":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/IMG_8853.jpg?fit=920%2C518&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p12yuy-1OX","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":5603,"url":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/a-statement-on-labeling-the-irgc-as-a-terrorist-group\/","url_meta":{"origin":7003,"position":0},"title":"A statement on Labeling the IRGC as a Terrorist Group","author":"Ali","date":"April 11, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"In a statement released on the 8th of April, 2019, president Donald Trump announced the U.S. government\u2019s decision of designating the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist group and that the details of new sanctions against this terrorist organization will be made public in due course. Even though\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Latest"","block_context":{"text":"Latest","link":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/category\/latest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Center4.png?fit=995%2C518&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Center4.png?fit=995%2C518&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Center4.png?fit=995%2C518&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Center4.png?fit=995%2C518&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7025,"url":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/cnfi-supports-eu-designation-of-irgc-as-terrorist-organization\/","url_meta":{"origin":7003,"position":1},"title":"CNFI Supports EU Designation of IRGC as Terrorist Organization","author":"Ali","date":"February 1, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The Congress of Nationalities for a Federal Iran(CNFI) welcomes the decision of the European Union to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization and considers this measure a significant and necessary step toward strengthening international accountability, advancing the protection of human rights, and confronting state-sponsored terrorism.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Latest2"","block_context":{"text":"Latest2","link":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/category\/latest2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_3974.jpeg?fit=1200%2C678&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_3974.jpeg?fit=1200%2C678&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_3974.jpeg?fit=1200%2C678&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_3974.jpeg?fit=1200%2C678&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/IMG_3974.jpeg?fit=1200%2C678&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6759,"url":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/pdki-welcomes-australias-designation-of-irgc-as-a-state-sponsor-of-terrorism\/","url_meta":{"origin":7003,"position":2},"title":"PDKI Welcomes Australia\u2019s Designation of IRGC as a State Sponsor of Terrorism","author":"Ali","date":"November 28, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"In a joint statement issued on 27 November 2025, the Australian Minister for Home Affairs and the Attorney General officially designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of the Iranian regime as a state sponsor of terrorism. This decision followed attacks on several centres and institutions in Australia in 2024\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Latest"","block_context":{"text":"Latest","link":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/category\/latest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/IMG_8853.jpg?fit=920%2C518&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/IMG_8853.jpg?fit=920%2C518&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/IMG_8853.jpg?fit=920%2C518&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/IMG_8853.jpg?fit=920%2C518&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":6300,"url":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/open-letter-on-the-call-for-terror-listing-of-the-islamic-revolutionary-guard-corps\/","url_meta":{"origin":7003,"position":3},"title":"Open letter on the call for terror listing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps","author":"Ali","date":"April 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"On the 26th anniversary of the verdict on the \"Mykonos assassination\" of Kurdish opposition members ordered by the leadership of the Islamic Republic of Iran Dear Members of the European Council, Dear High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Mr Josep Borrell, On the occasion of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Latest"","block_context":{"text":"Latest","link":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/category\/latest\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/23579.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/23579.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/23579.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/23579.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/23579.jpg?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7038,"url":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/open-letter-of-the-pdki-department-of-foreign-relations-to-foreign-ministers-of-the-european-union-member-states\/","url_meta":{"origin":7003,"position":4},"title":"Open Letter from the PDKI Department of Foreign Relations to the Foreign Ministers of the European Union Member States","author":"Ali","date":"February 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"On behalf of the Department of Foreign Relations of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI), we express our profound gratitude for the European Union\u2019s recent decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation. This courageous and long-overdue measure represents a decisive step in defence\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Latest2"","block_context":{"text":"Latest2","link":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/category\/latest2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo-output-e1776273754348.jpeg?fit=1200%2C677&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo-output-e1776273754348.jpeg?fit=1200%2C677&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo-output-e1776273754348.jpeg?fit=1200%2C677&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo-output-e1776273754348.jpeg?fit=1200%2C677&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/photo-output-e1776273754348.jpeg?fit=1200%2C677&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":7042,"url":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/pdki-representative-meets-uk-mp-jim-shannon-to-discuss-developments-in-iran-and-kurdistan\/","url_meta":{"origin":7003,"position":5},"title":"PDKI Representative Meets UK MP Jim Shannon to Discuss Developments in Iran and Kurdistan","author":"Ali","date":"February 3, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"On Monday, February 2, 2026, Razgar Alani, the representative of the Democratic Party of Iranian Kurdistan (PDKI) in the United Kingdom, met with Mr. Jim Shannon, a Member of Parliament from the Democratic Unionist Party of Northern Ireland. Mr. Shannon has consistently supported the freedom-seeking peoples of Iran in Parliament\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Foreign Relation Activities & Reports"","block_context":{"text":"Foreign Relation Activities & Reports","link":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/category\/foreign-relation\/activities-reports\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Razgar.jpg?fit=591%2C340&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Razgar.jpg?fit=591%2C340&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Razgar.jpg?fit=591%2C340&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7003"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7003"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7003\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7008,"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7003\/revisions\/7008"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6426"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7003"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7003"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pdki.org\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7003"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}