“When it comes to [US] attacks, I think the region does not need a new war,” Kallas added, after being asked on the timing of the IRGC move. France and Italy had initially objected to the IRGC terrorist designation, amid fears it would end diplomatic relations with Tehran and put EU nationals in prison there in harm’s way. But Kallas said they had changed their minds this week after the scale of the Iran killings slowly came to light. The IRGC has some 640,000 military personnel and has threatened to strike US military bases in the region with drones and missiles if Trump bombed Iran. Two US sources told Reuters that Trump’s incoming military strikes were meant to inspire new protests in order to cause “regime change”.