Tehran Prepares Countermeasures to Europe’s 'Terrorist' Designation of Revolutionary Guard

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami in closed parliamentary session (EPA)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami in closed parliamentary session (EPA)
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Tehran Prepares Countermeasures to Europe’s 'Terrorist' Designation of Revolutionary Guard

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami in closed parliamentary session (EPA)
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami in closed parliamentary session (EPA)

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian did not rule out his country’s regime retaliating against Europe if it decides to blacklist Iran’s Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization. Reciprocal measures that Iran could take include withdrawing from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

Iran’s top diplomat, however, said that Iran received messages denying Europe wanting to follow through on the terrorist designation.

Meanwhile, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf threatened European armies and said that their members will not be safe in the region.

The Iranian parliament discussed the European Parliament's recent vote on blacklisting the Revolutionary Guard in a closed session attended by Amir-Abdollahian and Revolutionary Guard Commander Hossein Salami. President Ibrahim Raisi later joined the session.

Last Thursday, the European Parliament passed a resolution by majority vote, calling on the Iranian authorities to end human rights abuses, the execution of demonstrators, and the suppression of dissent.

The bloc also recommended designating the Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization alongside its foreign operations arm, the Quds Force, and the Basij forces.

Ghalibaf, who is himself a former commander of the Guards air force, added that parliament would “recognize the armies of the European countries... as terrorist groups.”

Alireza Salimi, a member of the Parliament’s presiding board, offered some details about the closed session.

“If Europe commits an unforgivable mistake, Iran will take similar countermeasures,” said Salimi.

“Iran will also declare all European military institutions as terrorists,” he revealed, adding that “from now on, none of the European military institutions in the region will be safe, and even their military advisors will not feel safe in their embassies.”

“The Europeans have sent messages that they do not intend to take such action and requested Iran not to take similar countermeasures. Americans have also sent messages to Iran and requested negotiations,” added Salimi.



Swiss Flight to Zurich from Bucharest Makes Emergency Landing in Austria

An aircraft of SWISS airlines takes-off from Zurich Airport in Kloten, Switzerland September 29, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
An aircraft of SWISS airlines takes-off from Zurich Airport in Kloten, Switzerland September 29, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
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Swiss Flight to Zurich from Bucharest Makes Emergency Landing in Austria

An aircraft of SWISS airlines takes-off from Zurich Airport in Kloten, Switzerland September 29, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann
An aircraft of SWISS airlines takes-off from Zurich Airport in Kloten, Switzerland September 29, 2022. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

A Swiss International Air Lines flight bound for Zurich from Bucharest made an emergency landing in the Austrian city of Graz because of engine problems and smoke in the cabin and cockpit, the carrier said.
The Airbus A220-300 aircraft involved in Monday's incident was carrying 74 passengers and five crew, Reuters reported. All passengers were evacuated, Swiss said in a statement.
Twelve passengers on flight LX1885 received medical attention and one of the cabin crew was taken to hospital by helicopter, but their condition remains unclear.
The other four crew were also under medical care, Swiss added.
A flight is set to leave Graz on Tuesday morning carrying passengers to Zurich.