Spain backs EU listing of Iran's Revolutionary Guard as 'terrorist' group, urges tough sanctions
EU must use 'all instruments' available to respond to 'repression' in Iran and support Iranian protesters, says Spanish foreign minister.
Spain supports the inclusion of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the EU's list of terrorist organisations, the Spanish foreign minister has said, stressing that Madrid backs "all sanctions" against Tehran in response to its domestic crackdown.
Speaking on Thursday ahead of a meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, Jose Manuel Albares said Spain's position was long-standing and unequivocal.
"Spain supports all the sanctions on Iran at this moment," he said, adding that this included "of course those that refer to the inclusion on the list of terrorist groups of the Revolutionary Guard."
He argued that there was little left to assess given the situation inside the country.
"When we see the situation in Iran, when we see a blind, indiscriminate repression, arbitrary detentions, a situation for Iranian women that worries us terribly," Albares said, it was the EU’s "responsibility and, if you allow me, obligation" to act.
Albares said Spain had from the outset demanded respect for "freedom of expression and the freedom of peaceful demonstration of all Iranians," praising the "great courage" of those protesting.
He said arbitrary detentions must end and warned that "any execution would be an authentic red line for Spain and for Europe."
Deadly protests
Iran has been rocked by waves of protests since December 28 at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar because of the sharp depreciation of the Iranian rial and worsening economic conditions. Demonstrations later spread to several cities.
At least 6,126 people have been killed in protests across Iran, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said earlier this week.
A total of 41,880 people have been arrested as of the 30th day of nationwide protests in the country, according to data compiled by HRANA.
Officials have accused the US and Israel of backing "armed rioters" to create a pretext for foreign intervention and warned that any US attack would draw a "swift and comprehensive" response.
US President Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to "hit hard" if protesters were killed, but later commended Tehran for reportedly cancelling hundreds of scheduled executions.