On October 18, the EU Council added 11 individuals and 4 organisations from Iran to the list of persons subject to restrictive measures in the context of the existing human rights sanctions against Iran,” the EU Council said in a statement.
Photo: www.al-monitor.com
Sanctions for use of force against peaceful protestors
The restrictions were imposed on the Iranian Moral Police and two of its key figures, Mohammad Rostami and Hajahmad Mirzai.
In addition, the EU included Issa Zarepour, Iran’s Minister of Information and Communications Technology, on the list for his responsibility in the Internet shutdown. The sanctions include a travel ban and asset freeze.
“The EU and its member states condemn the widespread and disproportionate use of force against peaceful protestors. This is unjustifiable and unacceptable. People in Iran, as anywhere else, have the right to peacefully protest and this right must be ensured in all circumstances,” the EU Council statement reads.
The EU anticipates that Iran would immediately halt its repressive crackdown on nonviolent protestors, release all prisoners, and enable the free flow of information, including internet access. The EU also anticipates Iran to give all detainees with a fair trial and to disclose the precise number of deaths and arrests. Mahsa Amini’s murder has to be thoroughly investigated, and anyone found to be guilty for it ought to face justice, the EU Council declared.
EU may impose new sanctions on Iran for drones supply to Russia
Although the EU is yet anticipated to agree to further sanctions following the reports that Tehran supplied Russia with combat drones used in Ukraine have strained relations between Iran and the EU.
Russian drones targeting Ukrainian infrastructure, according to Ukrainian officials, have been used more frequently recently. Since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, Iran claims it has not delivered any drones to Russia; Moscow has not responded.
Ministers from some member states were more explicit in attributing the deployment of drones and urging more action against Iran for its “obvious” involvement in the war.
These are Shaheed-136 produced in Iran, according to drones that the Ukrainian army claimed to have captured almost undamaged.
Drone supply to Russia is seen as a breach of the nuclear deal between the West and Iran
Should Tehran’s involvement in Russia’s assault on Ukraine be established, additional EU sanctions against it won’t be restricted to blacklisting a few people, according to Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn.
France and Germany, two signatories to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, have both stated that they think more sanctions on the supply of drones are required.
Paris declared this week that the drone deliveries should be viewed as a breach of a UN Security Council resolution, which, as part of the Iranian nuclear deal, removed several of Tehran’s economic restrictions.
