EU designates Iran’s revolutionary guard as terrorist organisation, foreign policy chief Kallas says
As expected (11:31), the European Union has just designated Iran’s revolutionary guard as terrorist organisation, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed.
In a post on X, she said:
“Repression cannot go unanswered.
EU Foreign Ministers just took the decisive step of designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation.
Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise.”
Key events
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Closing summary
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Trump says he asked Putin not to fire at Ukrainian cities for week amid extreme cold temperatures
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Germany talking with European countries about shared nuclear umbrella to complement US arrangements, Merz says
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Macron welcomes Slovakia’s Fico for talks on Europe’s ‘strategic awakening’
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‘Region doesn’t need a new war,’ EU’s Kallas says on Iran tensions
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Europe’s sanctions, listing of IRGC is ‘major strategic mistake’ of ‘actor in severe decline,’ Iran’s foreign minister says
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IRGC terrorist listing ‘long overdue political signal’ that violence ‘will no longer go unanswered,’ senior MEP says
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EU’s von der Leyen welcomes sanctions, terrorist listing of ‘regime that crushes own people’s protests in blood’
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EU designates Iran’s revolutionary guard as terrorist organisation, foreign policy chief Kallas says
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Why are ICE agents going to the Winter Olympics in Italy? – video explainer
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Le scoop! France’s last newspaper hawker celebrated with prestigious award
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EU sanctions 15 officials and 6 organisations in Iran over brutal protest crackdown
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Danish king Frederik to travel to Greenland next month in bid to boost morale amid US interest in territory
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‘We have rules and we need to respect them,’ Luxembourg’s foreign minister plays down Ukraine’s 2027 EU membership prospect
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EU wants to clamp down on asylum system abuses, tighten migration controls under new plans
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‘This is state terror,’ EU enlargement commissioner on Russian continuing strikes on Ukraine
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EU plans to spend €145m on aid for Ukraine amid worsening humanitarian situation
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EU expected to list Iran’s revolutionary guard as terrorist organisation
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Kremlin declines to comment on rumoured energy infrastructure ceasefire
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Greenland ‘never been peripheral’ to US security, Trump envoy says, as he hints at scope of deal with Denmark
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French foreign minister warns about ‘brutalisation of world,’ as he urges EU unity on Greenland, Ukraine
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Germany’s Merz warns against ‘rough winds’ as he urges Europe to reassert itself to face challenges
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Russia ‘trying to bomb and freeze’ Ukrainians into submission, EU’s foreign policy chief warns
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Morning opening: Denmark ‘slightly more optimistic’ about resolving US Greenland interest
Closing summary
Jakub Krupa
… and on that note, it’s a wrap for today!
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The EU has listed Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation, ending years of division over the issue in response to the regime’s brutal repression of protesters (16:14, 16:16, 16:51, 16:59, 17:11).
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The EU also added 15 Iranian government officials and 6 organisations to its sanctions list for their role in “serious human rights violations” in the repression of protesters.
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More than 30,000 people may have been killed in Iran in the latest wave of repression, according to some estimates as human rights groups say a “revenge” campaign has been unleashed by the regime.
In other news,
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US president Donald Trump said he has personally asked Vladimir Putin “not to fire into Kyiv and various [Ukrainian] towns for a week” amid extremely low temperatures expected in the coming days, saying the Russian president “has agreed to that” (18:13).
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Earlier, several EU leaders criticised Russia for continued attacks on Ukraine’s critical infrastructure (9:55, 12:06, 12:58)
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German chancellor Friedrich Merz said that European nations are starting to discuss ideas around a shared nuclear umbrella to complement existing security arrangements with the US (17:54), earlier warning about “rough winds blowing in the world” in his foreign policy speech in the Bundestag (10:18).
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Danish king Frederik will travel to Greenland in mid-February amid US interest in controlling the territory (14:10), after foreign minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen revealed he had “constructive” talks with the US over Greenland last night (9:38).
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And here here is a short video in which I’m talking about our recent story on why US ICE agents will be coming to Italy for the Winter Olympics…
And that’s all from me, Jakub Krupa, for today.
If you have any tips, comments or suggestions, email me at jakub.krupa@theguardian.com.
I am also on Bluesky at @jakubkrupa.bsky.social and on X at @jakubkrupa.
Trump says he asked Putin not to fire at Ukrainian cities for week amid extreme cold temperatures
US president Donald Trump is now speaking at the cabinet meeting over in the US.
He says he has personally asked Russia’s Vladimir Putin “not to fire into Kyiv and various towns for a week” amid extremely low temperatures expected in the coming days, saying the Russian president “has agreed to that.”
“On top of everything else, that’s not what they need, missiles coming into their towns,” he said.
His envoy, Steve Witkoff, said earlier that the Ukraine-Russia talks made further progress in recent weeks, and will continue “in about a week” with “lots of good things happening between the counterparties,” including talks on “the land deal.”
Witkoff also confirmed that “we have a security protocol [with Ukraine] that’s largely finished, and a prosperity agreement that’s largely finished.”
“I think the people of Ukraine are now hopeful and expecting that we’re going to deliver a peace deal sometime soon,” he said.
Germany talking with European countries about shared nuclear umbrella to complement US arrangements, Merz says
Meanwhile, German chancellor Friedrich Merz said that European nations are starting to discuss ideas around a shared nuclear umbrella to complement existing security arrangements with the US, amid growing talk in Germany of developing its own nuclear defences.
Merz said the talks were only at an initial stage and no decision was imminent, Reuters reported.
“We know that we have to reach a number of strategic and military policy decisions, but at the moment, the time is not ripe,” he told reporters.
Germany is currently banned from developing a nuclear weapon of its own under the so-called Four Plus Two agreement that opened the way for the country’s reunification in 1990 as well as under a landmark nuclear non-proliferation treaty that Germany signed in 1969.
Merz said Germany’s treaty obligations did not prevent it from discussing joint solutions with partners, including Britain and France, the only European powers which have a nuclear arsenal.
“These talks are taking place. They are also not in conflict with nuclear-sharing with the United States of America,” he said.
Macron welcomes Slovakia’s Fico for talks on Europe’s ‘strategic awakening’
Macron sunglasses alert: they’re gone! Till next time, Pacific S 01 Double Golds!
It seems that the French president’s eye injury has now cleared, as he showed up without them for his meeting with Slovak prime minister Robert Fico today.
In a short post in Slovak (just a day after speaking Greenlandic and Danish!), Macron said the meeting focused on Europe’s “strategic awakening” and looking to produce “more unity and solidarity to ensure our European independence.”
“Our European and bilateral agenda must enable us to accelerate progress in what is essential: in the areas of energy, competitiveness, defence, but also the protection of our democracies, based on the values of the European Union.”
Obviously, you will remember from yesterday’s Europe Live (here and here) that Slovak politicians floated some ideas as to why Fico wanted to meet with Macron and that it had to do with his alleged assessment of US president Trump’s ‘state of mind’… but it’s worth noting that the Slovak PM has strongly denied these reports.
‘Region doesn’t need a new war,’ EU’s Kallas says on Iran tensions
Presenting the conclusions of the foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas was asked if the bloc would be potentially prepared to back a US strike against Iran.
She gives a brief, pointed answer:
“When it comes to attacks … I think the region does not need a new war.”
Europe’s sanctions, listing of IRGC is ‘major strategic mistake’ of ‘actor in severe decline,’ Iran’s foreign minister says
Iran’s foreign minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has a very different view on the move, though.
In a post on X, he said:
“Several countries are presently attempting to avert the eruption of all-out war in our region. None of them are European.
Europe is instead busy fanning the flames. After pursuing ‘snapback’ at the behest of the U.S., it is now making another major strategic mistake by designating our National Military as a supposed “terrorist organization”.
Putting aside the blatant hypocrisy of its selective outrage—taking zero action in response to Israel’s Genocide in Gaza and yet rushing to “defend human rights” in Iran—Europe’s PR stunt mainly seeks to cloak that it is an actor in severe decline.
Moreover, as the continent is certain to be massively impacted by an all-out war in our region—including the knock-on effects of surging energy prices—the EU’s current posture is deeply damaging to its own interests.
Europeans deserve better than what their governments have to offer.”
IRGC terrorist listing ‘long overdue political signal’ that violence ‘will no longer go unanswered,’ senior MEP says
The chair of the European parliament’s delegation for relations with Iran, Hannah Neumann, said the revolutionary guard listing was a “long-overdue political signal that massive violence and transnational repression will no longer go unanswered”.
“This listing is not merely symbolic,” she said in a statement. “It carries very concrete legal consequences: assets are frozen, and any financial or material support becomes a criminal offence.”
She continued:
“Investigative and law-enforcement authorities finally have a clear legal basis to act against networks, enablers, and those who profit economically.
From now on, the same rules apply to the Revolutionary Guards as to Daesh or Hamas: anyone who cooperates with them is committing a criminal offense in the EU.
What matters now is consistent implementation by the member states. For the people in Iran and for the Iranian diaspora in Europe, this sends a clear message: the long era of impunity is coming to an end. Threats, intimidation, and repression will no longer be tolerated. Perpetrators and their supporters must expect determined prosecution.”
Separately, she said on X:
“After so many years of demanding, pressuring, fighting, finally, they all joined our call to list IRGC as a terrorist organisation. But why did so many people have to die before we got there? My thoughts are with the victims of IRGC. My hopes are for a free Iran.”
EU’s von der Leyen welcomes sanctions, terrorist listing of ‘regime that crushes own people’s protests in blood’
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has welcomed the move on “new sanctions against the murderous Iranian regime” and the IRGC.
She said:
“This was long overdue. « Terrorist » is indeed how you call a regime that crushes its own people’s protests in blood. Europe stands with the people of Iran in their brave fight for freedom.”
European Parliament president Roberta Metsola also praised the decision:
“Europe stands up to be counted. Designating the Iranian regime’s oppressive IRGC as a terrorist organisation is the right decision, that even a few weeks ago so many said was impossible. Proud of the European Parliament’s sustained, unified effort that helped push this breakthrough. Now, time to stand strong. Iran will be free.”
EU designates Iran’s revolutionary guard as terrorist organisation, foreign policy chief Kallas says
As expected (11:31), the European Union has just designated Iran’s revolutionary guard as terrorist organisation, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas confirmed.
In a post on X, she said:
“Repression cannot go unanswered.
EU Foreign Ministers just took the decisive step of designating Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation.
Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise.”
Why are ICE agents going to the Winter Olympics in Italy? – video explainer
Jakub Krupa
Aaaand… so let me break the fourth wall for a second: here is a short video in which I’m talking about our recent story on why US ICE agents will be coming to Italy for the Winter Olympics.
I’m diving into why they’re actually going there, the local controversy brewing in Italy over their presence, and the government’s explanation why (they think) it’s not really as big a deal as protesters say.
Ultimately, it’s a look at how the line between the sports arena and the political stage is getting thinner every day… and the US World Cup is coming up this summer!
Earlier this week, Angela Giuffrida and I reported on plans for ICE agents to come to Europe for next month’s Winter Olympics as part of the US diplomatic protection team, and the uproar it caused in Italy.
Earlier today, there was even a small protest near the US embassy in Rome against ICE’s involvement in the country.
According to the Italian press, more protests are expected next week, including a “From Minneapolis to Milan” demonstration in Milan on 6 February, the actual day the Olympic Games are scheduled to get under way.
Le scoop! France’s last newspaper hawker celebrated with prestigious award
Ashifa Kassam
European community affairs correspondent
Now for some lighter news…
For more than five decades he’s pounded the pavements of Paris, becoming part of the city’s cultural fabric as he strikes up conversations, greets longtime friends and offers parodies of daily news headlines.
On Wednesday, the efforts of the man believed to be France’s last newspaper hawker were recognised, as Ali Akbar, a 73-year-old originally from Pakistan, received one of France’s most prestigious honours.
In a ceremony at the Élysée Palace, France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, described Akbar as the “most French of the French” as he made him a knight of the National Order of Merit in recognition of his distinguished service to France.
“You are the accent of the sixth arrondissement, the voice of the French press on Sunday mornings. And every other day of the week, for that matter,” said Macron. “A warm voice that, every day for more than 50 years, has boomed across the terraces of Saint-Germain, making its way between restaurant tables.”
Speaking to Reuters in August, Akbar highlighted the delight he got from walking through Paris each day. “It’s love,” Akbar said as he crisscrossed the cobbled streets of Saint Germain-des-Prés. “If it was for the money, I could do something else. But I have a great time with these people.”
EU sanctions 15 officials and 6 organisations in Iran over brutal protest crackdown
The EU has announced sanctions on 15 Iranian officials, including top commanders and officials of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, over Tehran’s deadly crackdown on nationwide protests.
The sanctions also included measures against six Iranian organisations.
Iran had no immediate comment on the decision.
Danish king Frederik to travel to Greenland next month in bid to boost morale amid US interest in territory
Danish king Frederik will travel to Greenland in mid-February amid US interest in controlling the territory, Danish media reported.
The monarch revealed the planned visit – scheduled for the eighth week of the year, starting on 16 February – during his state visit to Lithuania, TV2 reported, saying he hoped it would keep the morale up amid “worries” about the future.
He was earlier asked about his thoughts on the US pressure on Denmark, saying “we feel for the Greenlandic people very much.”
‘We have rules and we need to respect them,’ Luxembourg’s foreign minister plays down Ukraine’s 2027 EU membership prospect
Back to Ukraine, not everyone seems to be equally keen on rushing to admit Ukraine to the EU next year (12:58), as requested by Zelenskyy on Tuesday (Europe Live).
Xavier Bettel, Luxembourg’s foreign minister and former prime minister, was not happy with the Ukrainian president’s repeated requests to allow Ukraine by 2027 – even as he strongly repeated Europe’s support for Ukraine.
“I just heard that President Zelenskyy said that they have to be member next year.
I’m sorry. I told him, several times: don’t give ultimatums. It’s not in your interest.
The fact is, there are rules, the Copenhagen criteria, and we need to fulfil them. We cannot say that there are criterias for the one and not for the other. …
As long as the criterias of Copenhagen are not respected, we cannot say: Please enter the family and for you we close the eyes, for you we close the ears, for you we close the mouth.
No, we need we have rules, and we need to respect them.”
EU wants to clamp down on asylum system abuses, tighten migration controls under new plans
Separately, the EU has laid out plans to overhaul its visa system and step up deportations as part of a five-year migration strategy that cements a hardening line on the issue, AFP reported.
Irregular arrivals in the 27-nation bloc were down by more than a quarter in 2025, according to the EU’s border agency – but political pressure to act remains high.
“The priority is clear: bringing illegal arrival numbers down and keeping them down,” Magnus Brunner, the EU’s commissioner for migration, said.
The strategy stressed the need to boost deportations of failed asylum-seekers among the bloc’s priorities.
“Abuse gives migration a bad name – it undermines public trust and ultimately takes away from our ability to provide protection and undercuts our drive to attract talent,” said Brunner.
Criticised by rights groups, the proposal also envisages harsher penalties for migrants who refuse to leave European territory, including longer periods of detention.
Brussels recently struck or is negotiating deals with Northern African countries including Tunisia, Mauritania, Egypt and Morocco, whereby it gets help controlling migration flows in return for aid and investments.
But Amnesty International criticised the EU’s approach as “flawed”.
It “only heightens its dependence on third countries to manage migration, while making it complicit in any rights violations that may result”, said Olivia Sundberg Diez, a policy analyst with the human rights group.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
