The move is designed to delegitimize the government in Tehran, a top lawmaker has said<\/p>\n
The European Parliament has banned all Iranian diplomats and government representatives from its premises, President Roberta Metsola announced on Monday, stating that the \u201cbrave people of Iran\u201d need more than just solidarity.
\nThe move comes amid nationwide protests in Iran that began in late December following a sharp depreciation of the national currency. The\u00a0rallies have escalated into deadly clashes, with mosques, medical centers, and\u00a0government buildings torched across the country in\u00a0what Western officials still describe as a peaceful protest movement.
\n\u201cToday I have taken the decision to ban all diplomatic staff and any other representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran from all European Parliament premises,\u201d Metsola wrote in a post on X.<\/p>\n
It cannot be business as usual.As the brave people of Iran continue to stand up for their rights and their liberty, today I have taken the decision to ban all diplomatic staff and any other representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran from all European Parliament premises.\u2026\u2014 Roberta Metsola (@EP_President) January 12, 2026 <\/p>\n
\u201cThe people of Iran can continue to rely on this Parliament for support, solidarity, and action,\u201d Metsola wrote in a separate letter to MEPs, seen by Politico.<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
Iran has evidence US and Israel had \u2018big hand\u2019 in unrest \u2013 Tehran<\/p>\n
The ban is effective immediately and applies to all parliamentary buildings in Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg. \u201cThis House will not aid in legitimising this regime,\u201d\u00a0she stated, explaining that anyone with an Iranian passport will be checked at the door, and those found to be working for the government will be denied access.\u00a0
\n\u201cThose braving the streets, those political prisoners still detained, need more than just solidarity,\u201d Metsola added, calling for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be designated as a terrorist organization and for EU sanctions to be extended against more Iranian officials.\u00a0
\nUS President Donald Trump has also issued a series of statements in recent days in support of the Iranian people\u2019s quest for \u201cfreedom.\u201d\u00a0He claimed that the US is \u201clocked and loaded\u201d to intervene and vowed that the US will \u201cstart shooting\u201d if the Iranian authorities open fire on \u201cpeaceful protesters.\u201d<\/p>\n
Read more<\/p>\n
US warns Americans to \u2018leave Iran now\u2019<\/p>\n
The Iranian authorities have accused the US and Israel of hijacking the protests to unleash a \u201cterrorist war\u201d against the country. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said armed infiltrators aided by Israel\u2019s Mossad intelligence agency have shot Iranian security forces and civilian bystanders \u201cto give an excuse\u201d for Trump to intervene militarily.
\nOn Monday, Araghchi told foreign ambassadors that Iran is \u201cprepared for war\u201d but also \u201cready for negotiations\u201d with the US.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The move is designed to delegitimize the government in Tehran, a top lawmaker has said The European Parliament has banned all Iranian diplomats and government representatives from its premises, President…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26012,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":[],"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","footnotes":""},"categories":[4,6,3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economy","category-environment","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t