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Lithuania joins Israel's EU efforts to designate Iran's IRGC

In what could be the first true shift in the European Union's position, Lithuania’s FM is signaling support to adding the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to the EU's terror list.
Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis meets with Israel's Foreign Minister Eli Cohen, in Jerusalem, on March 2, 2023.

BRUSSELS — On an official visit to Israel, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis pledged on Thursday to support Jerusalem’s efforts for blacklisting of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The move could take time, but it offers Israel a path to bring such legislation to the European Union (EU), now that it is supported by a member state.

A statement issued by the office of Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said the Lithuanian government will support adding the IRGC to the country’s list of terror groups and will also support adding it to the EU list of terror groups. Furthermore, the Israeli statement said that the two ministers discussed ways to thwart the Iranian nuclear program, including reimposing diplomatic and economic sanctions against Tehran.

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