EU approves new sanctions against Iran over repression, support for Russia's war against Ukraine
On Thursday, January 29, the Council of the European Union decided to impose new restrictive measures linked to serious human rights violations in Iran and Iran's continued military support for Russia's war against Ukraine.
The Council said this in a press release seen by Ukrinform.
"The Council decided today to impose restrictive measures on an additional 15 persons and six entities responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran, following the violent repression of peaceful protests, including the use of violence, arbitrary detention, and intimidation tactics by security forces against demonstrators," the statement said.
The EU is in particular imposing restrictive measures on Eskandar Momeni, Iran's Minister of the Interior and Head of the National Security Council.
According to the statement, Iran's military supports to Russia's war of aggression continues to pose a direct threat to EU security.
Today, the Council also imposed restrictive measures on four persons and six entities under the EU dedicated sanctions regime, with a specific focus on the Iranian state-sponsored program for the development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
"Today's listings include Khojir Missile Development and Production, a leading entity in Iran's ballistic missile program, and Sahara Thunder, an Iranian import-export trading company which acts as a front company for the Iranian Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics," the statement read.
The Council also decided to extend the prohibition on the export, sale, transfer or supply from the EU to Iran to include further components and technologies used in the development and production of UAVs and missiles.
"This applies to special materials and related equipment, including energetic materials and mixtures thereof, materials processing, electronics, computers, telecommunications and information security, sensors and lasers, navigation and avionics, aerospace and propulsion as well as technology, designed or specifically adapted for the test, development or production of drones and missiles," the statement said.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha welcomed the Council's decision to strengthen sanctions against Iran and Russian propagandists and expressed hope for an even tougher 20th package of sanctions against Russia.
"I welcome EU Foreign Affairs Council decisions to strengthen sanctions against Iran for flagrant human rights violations and military support for Russian aggression; against Russia - for war, propaganda, and undermining international security; and against those responsible for violence and destabilization in Sudan," Sybiha said.
He stressed that consistent sanctions pressure is a vital tool to deter aggression and uphold international law.
"Ukraine commends the EU's leadership and looks forward to an even tougher 20th sanctions package against Russia," Sybiha wrote.
The United States imposed new sanctions against the Iranian regime last week over the killing of peaceful demonstrators.
The U.S.-based human rights organization HRANA has confirmed that 5,848 people were killed during protests in Iran, including 5,520 demonstrators, 77 minors, 209 security force personnel, and 42 bystanders.
Photo: sina drakhshani / Unsplash