ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq - Iran on Saturday designated the navy and air forces of EU member states “terrorist” organizations, after the European bloc designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in late January.

The Iranian foreign ministry announced the designation in a statement, saying that the measure is based on its reciprocal action law adopted in 2019, which states that any country that supports the US in designating the IRGC as a terrorist organization shall be subjected to reciprocity.

Accordingly, Tehran “considers the navy and air force of all member states of the European Union to be subject to the aforementioned law and its provisions.. and therefore, within the framework of reciprocity, recognizes and declares them as terrorist organizations,” the statement read.

The EU designated the IRGC in late January, citing “serious human rights violations in Iran,” amid the repression of mass protests and Tehran’s continued military backing of Russia in its war against Ukraine.

Following the EU designation, Iran’s General Staff of the Armed Forces of Iran accused the bloc of taking the measure with “complete shamelessness and brazenness” to satisfy US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the EU measure as a “major strategic mistake,” in late January.