Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced that the Islamic Republic will now classify all European Union military forces as terrorist groups. The declaration came after the European Union designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization in response to Tehran’s crackdown on nationwide protests. The announcement was reported by ABC News.

Ghalibaf stated that the decision was made under Article 7 of Iran’s law governing reciprocal measures against foreign actions. As a gesture of solidarity, he addressed the parliamentary session wearing the uniform of the Revolutionary Guards. The move marks Tehran’s direct retaliation against the EU’s earlier decision.

Earlier, the European Union had listed the IRGC as a terrorist organization following what it described as brutal repression of Iranian protesters. The reciprocal designation by Iran signals further deterioration in relations between Tehran and European governments.