Estonia Moves to Designate Iran's IRGC a Terrorist Group
Sixty-eight members of Estonia's parliament have formally submitted a draft statement calling for the designation of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, directly linking Tehran's violent crackdown on domestic protests to its military support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
- —Sixty-eight members of the Estonian Riigikogu have submitted a draft statement expressing solidarity with the Iranian people amidst ongoing protests fueled by economic and political crises.
- —The draft statement condemns the Iranian authorities' violent repression of peaceful protests, including alleged thousands of deaths and arbitrary arrests, and highlights restrictions on freedom of speech and information.
- —The statement links Iran's domestic repressions to its aggressive foreign policy, specifically its support for Russia's war in Ukraine.
- —The Estonian parliamentarians advocate for increased international political and diplomatic pressure on Iran, including targeted sanctions, and support for civil society and independent media.
- —A key proposal within the statement is the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, urging the EU and other democracies to adopt similar measures.
Recap
Estonia's parliamentary action is a calculated move to frame Iran's domestic repression and its military support for Russia as interconnected threats. The proposal to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization serves as a tactical tool to pressure the EU into adopting a more aggressive, unified stance against what Tallinn views as a growing authoritarian axis, aiming to cripple a key instrument of Iranian state power and international influence.