European Parliament condemns and expresses outrage at crackdown on protests in Iran

From our correspondent in Strasbourg – The European Parliament has expressed its “unequivocal condemnation and outrage” at the “brutal repression and mass killings” perpetrated by the Iranian regime against protesters in recent weeks, with the motion approved by a large majority. MEPs have reopened the debate on the need to designate the Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation. According to Lucia Annunziata, rapporteur for the resolution, it is time for Member States to define the Pasdaran “for what they are”. 

The text was adopted by the Strasbourg Chamber with 562 votes in favour, only 9 against and 57 abstentions. The European Parliament called on the regime led by Ali Khamenei to “immediately end violence against peaceful protesters, halt all executions, and cease the killing and repression of civilians”. The resolution highlights “a disturbing shift” in the Ayatollahs’ methods of repression, “from deterrence to strategic elimination“. Just today, state television released the first death toll, providing a figure much lower than the estimates of international organisations. According to the regime, there were 3,117 victims, while Human Rights Activists (HRANA) reported at least 4,902 killings.

Annunziata, a socialist MEP, insisted: “All those responsible for this repression must be held accountable, including through sanctions: Europe’s support for a democratic transition in Iran must be real, not symbolic.” The issue is one that already arose during the protest movement that erupted in 2022 following the killing of Mahsa Amini, and concerns whether or not to designate some of the regime’s armed wings as terrorist organisations. The European Parliament has called on the EU Council to “proceed without delay” in blacklisting the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including the Basij and the Quds Force. 

The EU has already imposed sanctions on the Revolutionary Guards, but for them to be recognised as terrorists, a national court ruling to that effect is required. Last week, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, confirmed that they are working on a new package of sanctions against those responsible for repression in Iran, which would add to a list of 230 individuals and 40 entities already sanctioned at the European level. 

MEPs also called on Tehran to “guarantee immediate and unhindered access to the UN fact-finding mission investigating serious crimes under international law” and on Brussels to “step up diplomatic efforts to provide protection, humanitarian assistance, and support to those at risk”. 

Finally, the resolution reiterates that Iran “continues to pose the most significant threat to regional security and stability and the main obstacle to peace” in the Middle East. The text was unanimously supported by the three pro-European groups: the People’s Party (EPP), the Socialists (S&D) and the Liberals (Renew). It was also supported by the Greens, the ECR Conservatives and the vast majority of the Patriotic group (PfE). 

All Italian parties supported the resolution, with the exception—somewhat surprisingly—of the Five Star Movement delegation, which chose to abstain because the resolution did not include a call on European institutions to “exert diplomatic pressure on the United States and Israel to refrain from launching or supporting military threats against Iran.” The amendment was tabled by the European Left group and was rejected by 226 votes to 373, with 30 abstentions.