The European Union sanctioned 15 Iranian officials Thursday over the country's bloody crackdown on nationwide protests, including top commanders of its Revolutionary Guard, ahead of an expected decision to name the entire paramilitary organization as a terrorist group.

Norway has joined European Union sanctions against Iranian actors following the killing of anti-government protesters in Iran, the Norwegian Foreign Ministry said on Friday. On Thursday, the EU designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization over its violent crackdown on protests.

The decision by the 27-nation bloc marks the latest Western response over the violence, which activists say has killed over 6,300 people.

The European Union is listing Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization over Tehran’s bloody crackdown on nationwide protests

Iran threatened Thursday to instantly strike US bases and aircraft carriers in response to any attack, after US President Donald Trump warned time was running out for Tehran and the EU blacklisted its Revolutionary Guards as a terror group.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he hoped to avoid military action against Iran, which has threatened to strike American bases and aircraft carriers in response to any attack.An Iranian military spokesman warned Tehran's response to any US action would not be limited -- as it was in June last year when American planes and missiles briefly joined Israel's short air war against Iran -- but would be a decisive response "delivered instantly".