The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning Iran's brutal repression of protesters and calling for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be designated as a terrorist organisation, the parliament announced on January 22.

The resolution, adopted by 562 votes in favour, nine against and 57 abstentions, expressed outrage at the "repression and mass murders being perpetrated by the Iranian regime against protesters in Iran".

Members of the European Parliament unconditionally demanded that Iranian authorities under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei "immediately end violence against peaceful protesters, halt all executions, and cease the murder and repression of civilians".

The parliament expressed alarm that the murder of thousands of protesters signals "a chilling shift in the Iranian regime's suppression of dissent from deterrence to strategic elimination". MEPs demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all protesters, human rights defenders and journalists currently held under arrest.

The resolution called on the Council to proceed without delay with full designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, including the Basij militia and Quds Force, as terrorist organisations.

It demanded expansion and strict enforcement of EU restrictive measures, including asset freezes and visa bans, whilst welcoming recent US sanctions.

The parliament condemned the regime's efforts to censor protests through internet shutdowns and called on the EU and member states to scale up technical and financial support for censorship circumvention tools and protection against cyber and information manipulation.

MEPs highlighted the Iranian regime's "decades-long pattern of systematic repression, in particular targeting women, human rights activists and political dissidents", reiterating calls for Iran to grant immediate and unhindered access to the UN-mandated fact-finding mission to address grave crimes under international law, including murder, torture, rape and enforced disappearances.

The resolution called for intensified diplomatic engagement, including enhanced EU presence, to provide individuals at risk with protection, humanitarian assistance and support. It condemned Iran's regional activities, stating that Iran "continues to constitute the largest and most substantial threat to the broader region's security and stability".

The parliament stressed that any normalisation of relations with Iran can only follow the unconditional release of political prisoners and genuine progress toward democracy and the rule of law, whilst welcoming European Parliament President Roberta Metsola's decision to bar representatives of the Iranian regime from parliament premises and urging member states to follow suit.