From EUobserver · · 1m 20s
EU's Iran Policy Flip-Flop
EU lists Iran's Guard Corps as terrorist but meets its leaders months later.
In brief
EU lists Iran's Guard Corps as terrorist but meets its leaders months later. EU's February terrorist listing of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and September handshakes with Iranian officials risk lives by failing to address recent mass killings. Originally reported by EUobserver.
EU's Iran Policy Flip-Flop
The European Union listed Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation in February, then met its top diplomats in September.
EU Diplomats Meet Iranian Leaders
EU chief diplomat Kaja Kallas met Abbas Araghchi, who served in the Guard Corps during the Iran, Iraq war, at the UN General Assembly last month.
Iranian Mass Killings
Iranian security forces killed protesters on 8 and 9 January, with HRANA verifying more than 7,000 deaths and the UN warning the toll may exceed 20,000.
UN Concludes Crimes Against Humanity
The UN fact-finding mission concluded the crackdown amounted to crimes against humanity, with 532 executions in the first eight months of this year.
EU's Sanctions Strategy
The EU listed the Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation in February and sanctioned additional Iranian officials for human rights abuses.
Inconsistent Policy
EU branding the Guard Corps a terrorist organisation while meeting its leaders contradicts Article 21 of the Treaty on European Union.
Policy Consequences
EU's February sanctions and September handshakes lower the cost of future mass killings by failing to address the regime's actions.
What it means
EU's February terrorist listing of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps and September handshakes with Iranian officials risk lives by failing to address recent mass killings.
