EU Lands More Sanctions On Iranian Officials

European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium
European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium

The European Union imposed additional restrictive measures on seven individuals responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.

“The new listings include the Public and Revolutionary Prosecutor of (Esfahan) Isfahan province and the Deputy Judge of the Provincial Criminal Court of Isfahan province, who are responsible for the trials against the protestors Saleh Mirhashmi, Majid Kazemi and Saeid Yaqoubi, subsequently executed in May 2023,” said the European Council in a statement on Monday.

In addition, the sanctions target the commander of the IRGC in Isfahan province, who oversaw the IRGC's response to anti-government protests.

Also listed by the Council are the Governor of Gilan province and the head of the Rezvanshahr Security Council, who ordered police officers to fire at protesters during the nationwide protests, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries, including children. The Police Commander of Rezvanshahr was also targeted in the new batch of sanctions.

“Lastly, sanctions were imposed on the Governor of the city of Amol, responsible for the killing of at least two young Iranian protesters, and the commander of the Imam Hossein Guards Corps of Karaj over the detention and killing of Mohammad Reza Ghorbani and the detention and rape of Amrita Abbassi by the Karaj security forces,” the statement claimed.

The EU's restrictive measures now apply to a total of 223 individuals and 37 entities. They consist of an asset freeze, a travel ban to the EU and a prohibition to make funds or economic resources available to those listed.

The European Union member states also called on Iran to halt its violent crackdown on peaceful protests, cease its arbitrary detentions, and release all those wrongfully imprisoned.