Brussels, March 16 (SANA) – The European Council on Monday imposed new restrictive measures against 16 individuals and three entities in Iran, citing their involvement in human rights violations and the suppression of protests earlier this year.
In a statement published on its official website, the Council said the sanctions target senior Iranian security officials, including a deputy interior minister, commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as judges and prison officials.
The measures also include sanctions on military and technology-related entities accused of participating in the monitoring of digital content and developing tools used for communication surveillance.
Under the decision, the total number of individuals and organizations sanctioned by the European Union over human rights concerns in Iran has risen to 263 individuals and 53 entities.
The sanctions include asset freezes within EU member states, a ban on EU citizens and companies conducting business with those listed, as well as travel bans and restrictions on exporting equipment that could be used for internal repression or communication monitoring.
The EU’s sanctions regime related to human rights in Iran has been in place since 2011 and was recently extended until April as part of continued European pressure on Tehran.
The measures follow protests that took place in December and January amid worsening economic conditions in Iran, which authorities moved to suppress.
Kh.A
