Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Dutch Prime Minister's Promise to List IRGC as Terrorist Group Unlikely to Materialize Amid Political Uncertainty


(MENAFN) Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte recently made remarks during a meeting with Iranian diaspora member, Masih Alinejad, promising to persuade the European Union to put the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on the list of terrorist groups. However, given the political uncertainty in the Netherlands, it is unlikely that Rutte will have enough time to pull this off.

Rutte's comments about Iran came just hours after the results of the Dutch regional elections were published. The elections were a political humiliation for Rutte and his party, as they lost to a party that did not even exist in the previous elections four years ago. This has led to speculation that Rutte may have to leave office after the Senate elections in May.

Rutte's party, the Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD-RE), has been focused on reducing carbon dioxide levels in the country. However, their policies have been controversial and have led to daily struggles for some sectors of the economy, particularly agriculture. This has contributed to the political uncertainty in the Netherlands.

In this context, Rutte's promise to list the IRGC as a terrorist group may be difficult to realize. The process of listing a group as a terrorist organization is complex and requires consensus among EU member states. Furthermore, Rutte's ability to influence EU policy may be limited if he is forced to leave office in May.

Masih Alinejad's excitement at Rutte's promise highlights the importance of this issue for the Iranian diaspora. The IRGC has been involved in numerous human rights violations and acts of terrorism, and listing them as a terrorist group could have significant implications for the Iranian regime.

However, it remains to be seen whether Rutte will be able to follow through on this promise given the political uncertainty in the Netherlands. Regardless, the issue of the IRGC's designation as a terrorist group will continue to be a contentious issue in EU-Iran relations.

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