Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said today that Estonia stands alongside the people of Iran in their pursuit of freedom. “The Iranian people’s demands for freedom and human dignity are justified, and the international community must act decisively against tyranny and oppression,” the foreign minister said.
According to Tsahkna, the international community must respond jointly and unequivocally to mass killings, violence, arbitrary detentions and the shutting down of information channels. “Estonia is working to ensure that the European Union designates the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation and imposes additional sanctions on those responsible for repression. The IRGC is the regime’s central instrument of terror, and this must be met with a clear political and legal response,” Tsahkna stressed. As a member of the UN Human Rights Council in 2026–2028, Estonia will also do everything possible to keep the human rights situation in Iran on the agenda in this international forum.
“Secondly, through internet and media freedom coalitions, Estonia is currently exploring ways to help ensure that the people of Iran and civil society organisations have access to the internet and remain connected to the free world,” Tsahkna said. “In addition, we have decided to provide extraordinary support for the Iran project under the Open Technology Fund programme.” The Open Technology Fund ensures access to an uncensored internet in authoritarian countries such as Iran and enables the opposition, journalists and citizens more broadly to obtain critical information.
“I also call on the Riigikogu to issue a statement recognising the IRGC as a terrorist organisation. This would be a clear sign of Estonia’s principled support for the people of Iran,” Tsahkna added.
Additional information
Communication Department
[email protected]
www.vm.ee | @MFAestonia