Austrian Lawmaker Advocates for Tougher Stance Against Iran's IRGC

Helmut Brandstätter, a member of the Austrian parliament, has reiterated his commitment to exert "maximum pressure on the Iranian regime" and to support the democratic revolution movement within Iran.

Brandstätter's stance includes pushing for the designation of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, a label he believes will impact Iran’s operational capabilities.

Last month, Brandstätter urged the European Union to implement sanctions against the IRGC, reflecting growing concerns within the EU about Iran’s role in global security threats.

The IRGC, known for its substantial role in quashing dissent through its regular forces and the Basij militia, has been instrumental in suppressing protests and public activities within Iran.

The United States officially designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization in 2019, based on its involvement in terrorist operations globally. Following suit, the United Kingdom last year acknowledged Iran, with its active IRGC components, as one of the country's most significant foreign threats, having thwarted multiple IRGC-led plots on British soil, especially on Iran International journalists.

The potential classification of the IRGC as a terrorist entity by the EU could alter European-Iranian trade dynamics, given that the IRGC is estimated to control over 50% of Iran's economy.