Why it matters: Rome–Tehran tensions are flaring after Italy signaled it could push the EU to designate Iran’s most powerful military force as a terrorist organization.
The news: Iran has summoned Italy’s ambassador in Tehran, Paola Amadei, to protest recent comments by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
- Tajani said he will propose that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps be listed as a terrorist organization at an EU foreign ministers’ meeting scheduled for Thursday.
What they’re saying: Tehran called Tajani’s comments “irresponsible,” arguing they target what Iran considers an official component of its internal security apparatus.
Context: Minister Tajani justified the planned proposal by citing the harsh repression of protests in Iran in January, which he said involved mass killings, massacres and unprecedented brutality.
- The IRGC—also known as the Pasdaran—is described as a central force in the crackdown, alongside volunteer militias and regular police, with its leadership setting the line for other security bodies.
Between the lines: Summoning a foreign ambassador is a standard diplomatic tool used to signal displeasure or demand explanations over actions deemed hostile.
The backdrop: The episode adds strain to relations between Iran and Italy, and feeds into a broader EU debate over how to respond to Tehran’s internal repression.
