Lawmakers across the political spectrum urge decisive EU action against Iran’s repressive apparatus while affirming the Iranian people’s right to determine their own future
In a landmark parliamentary session attended by Luxembourg’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, all 60 members of the country’s parliament unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the designation of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization. The debate focused on solidarity with the Iranian people’s ongoing uprising and the need for firm, coordinated action at the European Union level against Tehran’s repressive institutions.
The resolution was introduced by Laurent Zeimet of the Christian Social People’s Party, who argued that a political system built on repression, lethal force against civilians, and systematic denial of basic freedoms has no legitimate standing in the international arena.
He emphasized that Luxembourg supports the aspiration for a free and democratic Iran and considers this stance consistent with Europe’s own long-term interests. According to Zeimet, the IRGC represents one of the regime’s primary instruments of violent repression, making its inclusion on the EU terrorist list both necessary and overdue.
Gusty Graas, Chair of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and a member of the Democratic Party, stressed that the future of Iran must ultimately be decided by its own citizens. At the same time, he underlined Europe’s responsibility to apply targeted sanctions aimed at weakening the ruling system’s capacity for repression, rather than issuing statements without concrete follow-up.
From the Socialist Group, Yves Cruchten described the current uprising as the result of decades of political oppression, social inequality, and sustained pressure on Iranian society. He framed the protests as legitimate expressions of democratic demands and universal fundamental rights that transcend national and cultural boundaries.
Cruchten argued that Luxembourg and the EU carry a particular responsibility to move beyond rhetoric and implement coordinated, targeted measures against those responsible for repression, explicitly including the IRGC.
He also conveyed solidarity with Iranian families and communities bearing the cost of state violence, affirming his party’s support for a future Iran grounded in democracy, the rule of law, and full respect for human rights.
Green Party MP Sam Tanson highlighted the central role of youth, women, workers, minorities, and civil society actors who continue to resist despite severe risks. He noted that this resistance is deeply rooted in Iranian society and enjoys broad social support.
Tanson called for a more resolute European stance against the regime, particularly against the IRGC and the economic and military structures that organize and profit from repression.
He also warned against scenarios in which the current crisis could result in the replacement of one dictatorship with another, stressing that democracy cannot be imposed from outside and that externally engineered regime changes have historically led to instability and renewed repression.
Sven Clement, leader of the Pirate Party, argued that the ruling system in Tehran has maintained power primarily through force, censorship, and intimidation. He rejected all forms of dictatorship and emphasized that Iranians deserve to live in a country where rights are respected, freedom of expression is guaranteed, and personal life is free from state intrusion.
Clement cautioned against fatalistic narratives portraying Iran as inherently destined for authoritarianism, pointing instead to the country’s long history of external geopolitical interference in which ordinary Iranians have consistently paid the highest price.
David Wagner of the Left Party (déi Lénk) placed current developments in a broader historical context by recalling the 1953 coup against the democratically elected government of Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. He noted that Iran once pursued progressive social reforms and sought to nationalize its oil industry for the benefit of its population, a course that was undermined by foreign intervention and followed by decades of dictatorship.
Wagner traced how popular dissatisfaction eventually culminated in a mass uprising, only for the anti-monarchical revolution to be hijacked by clerical forces that launched a new cycle of repression and violence. He rejected both foreign military intervention and any attempt to impose another authoritarian system—whether clerical or monarchical—from outside.
According to Wagner, one of the core demands of Iran’s democratic forces is the establishment of a constituent assembly, allowing Iranians themselves to decide their political future without external imposition.
The session concluded with remarks by Foreign Minister Xavier Bettel, who described Iran’s governing system as fundamentally incompatible with democratic values, citing systemic restrictions on freedoms, enforced dress codes for women, arbitrary punishments, and the denial of free expression.
He argued that religious extremism does not lead to tolerance or democracy but instead results in repression and the erosion of fundamental rights. Bettel welcomed parliamentary support for pursuing the IRGC’s designation as a terrorist organization and noted that targeted sanctions against specific individuals are already in place.
He confirmed that Luxembourg has summoned Iran’s ambassador to formally convey its opposition to the regime’s methods. Bettel reiterated that determining Iran’s future is not the role of foreign governments, but a right that belongs exclusively to the Iranian people themselves.
The unanimous vote underscored a rare cross-party consensus in Luxembourg, signaling growing momentum within Europe for more decisive and coordinated action in response to Iran’s ongoing repression and the demands of its protesting population.
