Italy Keeps Embassy Open, Calls for Talks With Iran
WANA (Jan 30) – Italy’s foreign minister has stressed the importance of maintaining diplomatic channels with Iran, stating that the European Union’s decision regarding the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) should not lead to a breakdown in dialogue with Tehran. He also confirmed that Italy’s embassy in Iran continues to operate.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Thursday, following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, that despite political consensus within the European Union to designate the IRGC as a “terrorist organization,” this move should not be interpreted as a reason to sever talks with Iran.
Referring to discussions held in Brussels, Tajani said claims about the killing of thousands of people during protests in Iran were among the main factors behind Italy’s shift in position on the issue. At the same time, he emphasized that diplomatic engagement remains essential, even amid serious disagreements.
In response, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs strongly condemned the EU’s decision to level what it described as baseless accusations against the Islamic Republic of Iran and to label the IRGC as a terrorist entity, calling the move an action against the entire Iranian nation.
Tehran has stated that the IRGC, as an official and integral part of Iran’s armed forces under the country’s constitution, has played a critical and widely recognized role in safeguarding national security, preserving regional stability, and combating terrorism, including ISIS.
Iran has also warned that responsibility for the political, legal, and security consequences of what it described as an ill-considered decision will rest with European policymakers, particularly those who initiated and promoted it.
Tajani further noted that while Italy has withdrawn some staff from its embassy in Tehran, around 20 personnel remain, and the embassy continues its activities.
EU Lists Iran’s IRGC as a Terrorist Organization
WANA (Jan 29) – The European Union has taken a politically charged and controversial step by placing Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—an official branch of the country’s armed forces—on its so-called terrorist organizations list, a move Tehran describes as illegal and inconsistent with the EU’s own legal procedures. Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High […]
