EU Parliament resolution: a historic stand against Human Rights violations in Iran

In a decisive move that signals a hardening stance against Tehran, the European Parliament has adopted a sweeping resolution condemning the Iranian regime’s brutal crackdown on civil unrest. Passed with a landslide majority, the resolution explicitly calls for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to be formally designated as a terrorist organization by the European Union—a move that protesters in Iran and the global diaspora have long demanded.

A landslide vote for accountability

On January 22, 2026, European lawmakers voted 562 to 9 (with 57 abstentions) to adopt the resolution. This near-unanimous consensus reflects a growing horror across the political spectrum regarding the escalation of violence.

The Parliament’s statement did not pull punches, accusing the leadership under Ali Khamenei of shifting from suppression to a “calculated campaign of slaughter.”

“The murder of thousands of protesters indicates a terrifying shift in the regime’s suppression policy: moving from deterrence to strategic elimination.”

Key demands: IRGC terror designation and targeted sanctions

The core of the resolution is an urgent mandate for the European Council to take punitive action. The Parliament is demanding:

• Terrorist Designation: The immediate classification of the IRGC, the Basij paramilitary forces, and the Quds Force as terrorist entities.
• Expanded Sanctions: Broadening restrictive measures to include strict asset freezes and visa bans for all officials responsible for human rights violations in Iran.
• Global Alignment: Lawmakers welcomed recent sanctions by the United States and urged the EU to act with equal speed and severity against the regime’s institutions.

Demanding justice for protesters in Iran

The resolution highlights decades of “systematic oppression” targeting women, human rights defenders, and political dissidents. A critical component of the text is the demand for unhindered access for the United Nations Fact-Finding Mission.

Lawmakers are calling for a full investigation into:

1. Mass killings and enforced disappearances.
2. Documented reports of torture and rape in detention centers.
3. The denial of fair trials for those arrested during the 2025-2026 unrest.

Furthermore, the Parliament stressed that diplomatic normalization is impossible until all political prisoners are released and tangible steps are taken toward the rule of law.

“Chaos and Destruction”

In a stark assessment of Middle Eastern geopolitics, the resolution described the Iranian regime as the single greatest threat to regional stability. Lawmakers accused Tehran of “sowing chaos and destruction,” necessitating a more robust EU diplomatic presence to support vulnerable populations and provide humanitarian aid.

Closing the doors on the regime

Solidifying this diplomatic freeze, the Parliament applauded President Roberta Metsola’s decision to ban regime representatives from European Parliament premises. The resolution urges all EU member states to follow this precedent, effectively isolating Tehran’s diplomats until the state-sponsored violence ceases.

Outside the parliament in Strasbourg, members of the Iranian diaspora gathered with photographs of victims. Their message was clear: Europe must move from condemnation to concrete action.