Iran slams EU parliament for urging sanctions on Guards

Iran condemned as "inappropriate and incorrect" on Thursday a call by the European parliament to blacklist the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terror group.

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian "strongly criticised the emotional approach of the European parliament and labelled the move inappropriate and incorrect" in a telephone call with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, the ministry said.

"Unfortunately, we witnessed the issuance of a draft of an emotional, harsh and unprofessional resolution by the European parliament, which is in conflict with political rationality and civility," the minister said.

His remarks came a day after MEPs voted in an amendment to an annual foreign policy report to urge the EU to blacklist the IRGC, the ideological arm of Iran's armed forces.

The vote is non-binding but it comes with EU foreign ministers already due to discuss tightening sanctions on Tehran at a meeting in Brussels next week.

Amir-Abdollahian warned Europe to "think about the negative consequences of this emotional behaviour".

"It is necessary to respect mutual security in the world of diplomacy and increase mutual trust instead of following the language of threats and unfriendly actions," he said.

The European parliament cited the IRGC's "terrorist activity, repression of protesters and supply of drones to Russia" in its blacklisting call.

Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Iran of delivering combat drones to Russia for use in the war on Ukraine it launched last February, an allegation Tehran denies.

Iran has been rocked by more than four months of protests triggered by the September 16 death in custody of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, following her arrest by morality police for an alleged breach of the Islamic republic's dress code for women.

Authorities say hundreds of people, including members of the security forces, have been killed and thousands arrested during the "riots".