TEHRAN, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Tehran's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday summoned Italy's ambassador to Tehran over "irresponsible" remarks by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani about Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Ambassador Paola Amadei was called in by Alireza Yousefi, director general for Western Europe at the ministry, a day after Tajani said on X that Italy would ask EU partners to designate the IRGC as a terrorist organization, accusing it of using violence during recent protests, according to Tehran.

Yousefi condemned Tajani's remarks, emphasizing the IRGC's legal status as part of Iran's armed forces and warning of the "destructive" consequences of such labeling. Amadei said she would relay Iran's protest to her government.

Protests over the sharp depreciation of the rial have swept Iranian cities since late December. Initially peaceful, the demonstrations escalated into clashes that caused casualties and damaged public property, including mosques, government buildings, and banks. Tehran has blamed the unrest on the United States and Israel.