Iran summons Italy envoy over EU proposal for IRGC designation
Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned Italy’s Ambassador to Tehran Paola Amadei on Tuesday after the country announced its plan to propose to the European Union to designate the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) as a “terrorist” entity.
The Foreign Ministry’s Director General for Western Europe Affairs Alireza Yousefi lodged a strong protest against “irresponsible positions” by Italy’s foreign minister, stressing the IRGC’s legal status as an official branch of the Iranian Armed Forces.
He warned about the consequences of the move and called on Rome to change its “ill-considered approach” toward Iran.
The Italian ambassador said she would promptly convey Iran’s position to her government.
The summon came a day after Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani urged the European Union to proscribe the IRGC as a “terrorist organization” in the wake of recent riots across Iran.
Tajani claimed that the “losses suffered by the civilian population during the protests demand a clear response.”
“I will propose, in coordination with the other partners [in the European Union], the inclusion of the Revolutionary Guards on the list of terrorist organizations,” he said.
He also called for the EU to levy individual sanctions against those responsible.