ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq –  Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned European countries on Friday that, in retaliation for their designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, Tehran could place European armies on its own terror list.

The EU on Thursday designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization for “serious human rights violations” during crackdowns on nationwide protests and Tehran’s continued backing for Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The move has been welcomed by several Western powers and strongly condemned by Iranian officials, amid heightened tensions between Tehran and Washington.

“The European Union made a major strategic mistake by declaring the Iranian Revolutionary Guards as terrorists. They lost something very significant,” Araghchi said during an interview with CNN Turk aired on Friday.

Araghchi expressed sadness over the EU’s decreasing role in the region, saying, “I am very sad,” and warned that “as a reciprocal reflex, our parliament can also put European armies on the terrorist groups list.”

“What Europe has done will not reduce the region’s stress,” Araghchi said, adding that regional countries’ efforts have helped reduce instability while European actions are “only fueling the fire here.”

Araghchi traveled to Turkey on Friday, meeting with senior Turkish officials to discuss recent tensions with Washington and nationwide unrest in Tehran.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington have risen over Iran’s heavy crackdown on protesters and its advancing missile and nuclear programs, with the US warning of possible military action. 

Ankara has offered to act as a mediator between the two sides to ease regional tensions, while Araghchi said Friday that Iran is ready to resume talks with the US but stressed that its ballistic missile program “remains a red line.”

Both sides have expressed a degree of willingness to enter new negotiations, with Washington clearly endeavoring to back up any talks with the threat of military intervention as what US President Donald Trump called "a massive armada" patrols on standby in regional waters.

While Iran remains under heavy international sanctions and pressure over its nuclear program, it has repeatedly said that its ballistic missile program is “not subject to negotiation,” insisting on its right to defend the country, as well as its right to pursue the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Iran has been rocked by nationwide protests since late last year, which have spread to the majority of provinces and increasingly targeted the government. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has reported that Iranian security forces have killed more than 6,100 protesters.