Iran's Supreme National Security Council secretary said European armies that participated in the EU's recent decision against the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) are considered terrorists under Iranian parliamentary law, IMNA reported on January 30.

Ali Larijani, in response to the EU's hostile action in designating the IRGC as a terrorist organisation, wrote that "the European Union certainly knows that according to the resolution of the Islamic Consultative Assembly, the armies of countries that participated in the recent EU resolution against the IRGC are considered terrorists, and therefore the consequences are directed at European countries that took such action".

The EU designated the IRGC as a terrorist organisation on January 29, following what officials described as a deadly crackdown on protesters in Iran.

EU foreign ministers took the "decisive step" because "repression cannot go unanswered", Kallas said, adding that the move puts the IRGC - a major military, economic and political force in Iran - on the same level as jihadist groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

Human rights groups estimate thousands of protesters were killed by security forces, including the IRGC, during weeks of unrest in December and January.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot described it as "the most violent repression in Iran's modern history" and said there could be "no impunity for the crimes committed".

France had previously been seen as hesitant to add the IRGC to the EU's terror list over fears this could put an end to all diplomatic ties with Iran, but changed course on January 28, coming out strongly behind a push to blacklist the group, which was led by Italy.

"Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise," Kallas said.

Kallas said she expected diplomatic channels to remain open with Iran, even after adding the IRGC to its list of groups involved in acts of terror.