Trump Issues Ultimatum to Iran as EU Moves to Label Revolutionary Guard a Terrorist Group.

Iran's Nuclear Program Under Pressure

According to UATV: Amid a heightened U.S. military presence in the region, President Donald Trump has delivered an ultimatum to Iran concerning its nuclear program. This escalation follows a U.S. strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities on June 21, 2025. By January 28, 2026, Trump was considering a further strike, confirming the deteriorating state of relations between the two nations.

Iran's Domestic Unrest

The crisis is compounded by severe internal instability in Iran. Mass protests erupted on December 28, 2025, driven by a dire economic crisis. The national currency, the rial, lost half its value in 2025, while the official inflation rate reached 42.5% by December of that year. According to data from the organization HRANA, the protests resulted in 3,090 fatalities, 2,885 of whom were demonstrators.

In response to Iran's actions, European Union foreign ministers decided on January 29, 2026, to add Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to its list of terrorist organizations. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas stated:

“We are imposing new sanctions, and I also expect the IRGC to be included on the list of terrorist organizations.” - Kaja Kallas

France has also backed this decision, as confirmed by the country's Foreign Minister, Jean-Noël Barrot.

Trump has called on Iran to return to negotiations, expressing hope for a 'fair and equitable agreement without nuclear weapons.' The situation surrounding Iran's nuclear ambitions and its domestic turmoil remains tense, with the potential for new actions from both the United States and the European Union. This standoff is a critical test for transatlantic foreign policy coordination regarding Iran.

The ongoing crisis carries significant implications for global security, as a further escalation could destabilize the regional economy and trigger new refugee waves. Furthermore, sanctioning the IRGC will likely strain EU-Iran relations, complicating any diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the broader confrontation.