New Zealand Sanctions 18 More Iranian Officials

In response to the regime's crackdown on protesters, 18 Iranian officials have been banned from travelling to New Zealand.

New Zealand's Foreign Affairs Minister Nanaia Mahuta announced on Monday a third tranche of sanctions saying it was a message to Iran that the country would not tolerate denial of human rights and violent suppression of protests.

“Our first and second tranches of travel bans sent a message to Iran that Aotearoa New Zealand will not tolerate the denial of basic human rights and the violent suppression of protests in Iran, and this third tranche reiterates that same message,” Nanaia Mahuta said.

“Despite international pressure, the Iranian regime has continued that severe and excessive repression of peaceful demonstrators since Mahsa Amini’s death, including the unconscionable execution on the 19th of May of three people in connection with their role in the protests.”

This brings the total number of banned officials to 55, following earlier bans on 37 Iranians associated with the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old who died after being detained for wearing her hijab "improperly".

A further 11 officials and seven Iranian entities have also been banned from travelling to New Zealand for having manufactured and supplied drones to support the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

"This is not the end of our efforts with Iran. Additional individuals and further measures remain under consideration given the Iranian state's ongoing egregious abuses of human rights," added Mahuta.