Fact Check: Which countries or international bodies have designate...

1. Summary of the results

As of June 2025, the following countries have officially designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization:

United States (since April 15, 2019) - first country to designate a foreign military branch as terrorist ^[1]
Bahrain
Saudi Arabia
Sweden
Paraguay (since April 25, 2025)
Canada (since June 19, 2024) ^[2]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

Several important nuances need to be considered:

Canada initially only designated the IRGC's Quds Force, not the entire organization ^[1]
The European Union as a whole has not designated the IRGC, though the European Parliament has passed a non-binding resolution supporting such action ^[1]
Some countries have taken alternative measures without full designation:
Germany has banned IRGC symbols ^[3]
France and the Netherlands have taken diplomatic actions against Iranian diplomats related to IRGC activities
The UK was considering designation as of 2023 but hadn't made a final decision ^[1]

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The question itself might suggest a simple binary situation (designated/not designated), while the reality is more complex:

Some sources advocate for more countries to follow the US lead in designation ^[4], indicating a potential Western-centric perspective
Different countries have varying levels of restrictions against the IRGC, from full designation to partial measures
The designation of a state military branch as a terrorist organization is unprecedented ^[1], which makes this case particularly complex from an international law perspective

Those benefiting from pushing various narratives include:

Western security establishments seeking stronger action against Iran
Regional rivals like Saudi Arabia and Bahrain who benefit from international isolation of Iran
Iranian opposition groups who seek increased pressure on the regime

Past Checks