PMOI Resistance Units in Zahedan hail EU terror designation of IRGC as victory for Iran’s people

2026-01-31 - 17:26

On January 30, PMOI Resistance Units in Zahedan, southeast Iran, resumed daring anti-regime activities to celebrate a historic diplomatic victory for the Iranian opposition. Despite a heavy presence of security forces and a suffocating atmosphere of repression, these units took to public places to hail the European Union’s recent designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. For the Resistance Units in Zahedan, this international development served as a backdrop to reiterate their domestic pledge. Through their activities, the Resistance Units emphasized their commitment to the struggle against the ruling theocracy and their fight for the establishment of a democratic republic that rejects all forms of dictatorship, whether clerical or monarchical. January 30—Zahedan, southeast Iran PMOI Resistance Units resume anti-regime activities despite heavy presence of security forces. While celebrating the terrorist designation of the IRGC, the Resistance Units reiterated their commitment to struggle against the regime and to fight... pic.twitter.com/tg26wyG9sd — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 31, 2026 The voice of the streets Placards held by the Resistance Units in Zahedan framed the EU’s decision not merely as a sanction, but as a validation of the Iranian people’s three-decade struggle. Messages displayed in the city noted that the Iranian Resistance has demanded this designation for over 30 years. Drawing a direct historical parallel, other slogans declared, “Just as they demanded the dissolution of the SAVAK, the people of Iran demand the dissolution of the IRGC,” referencing the secret police of the former dictatorship. The activists also linked the designation directly to the regime’s recent brutality. One placard read, “The terrorist designation of the IRGC by the European Union is the urgent answer to the massacre of the youth of Iran’s uprising.” The Resistance Units paid tribute to the “rebellious youth” who paid a heavy price during the crackdown from December 28 to January 11. "The terrorist designation of the IRGC by the European Union is the urgent answer to the massacre of the youth of Iran's uprising" pic.twitter.com/FAZvr7QDrC — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 31, 2026 End of appeasement in Europe The activities in Zahedan followed the unanimous decision by the EU’s 27 member states on January 29, 2026, to place the IRGC on its terrorist list alongside entities like ISIS and Al-Qaida. This decision signaled that the era of appeasing the clerical dictatorship has ended. This diplomatic shift was compelled by the regime’s sheer brutality. Since unrest began in late December, the regime has killed thousands of civilians. The PMOI has released the names of more than 1,500 murdered protesters, a scale of violence that shocked European capitals. As noted by EU High Representative Kaja Kallas, “Any regime that kills thousands of its own people is working toward its own demise.” The empire of plunder and terror The Resistance Units also highlighted the economic stranglehold the IRGC maintains over Iran. In Zahedan, placards poignantly noted that “The revenue of every barrel of oil that the mullahs’ regime sells is used to purchase bullets that take the lives of those who are calling for freedom.” The EU designation triggers asset freezes and funding prohibitions, cutting off resources to this machinery of death. It strikes at the heart of an entity established by Ruhollah Khomeini not to defend the nation, but to preserve clerical rule at any cost. "The youth of Iran have sacrificed everything to free their country and people" pic.twitter.com/mymKfx9N3D — People's Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) January 31, 2026 Self-reliance: The only path to victory Crucially, the message from Zahedan rejected reliance on foreign powers. Slogans clarified that “Foreign military might will not overthrow the mullahs’ regime” and that “A foreign war is not the solution.” instead, the Resistance Units emphasized that the overthrow of the regime is the sole responsibility of the Iranian people and their organized resistance. They argued that the terrorist designation must be the first step toward a broader recognition: the right of Iran’s youth to self-defense. As one placard stated, “The terrorist designation of IRGC must be complemented with the recognition of the right of Iran’s youth to fight against the IRGC.” With the IRGC now officially recognized as a terrorist organization, the civilians fighting back are not merely protesters, but the first line of defense against terrorism.