Iran: EU chief says bloc will sanction Iranian entities involved in war in Ukraine

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said the bloc plans to sanction Iranian entities that are involved in Russia’s war in Ukraine. The planned sanctions are part of the European Union’s upcoming round of sanctions related to the war.

Speaking to European lawmakers in Strasbourg on Wednesday, von der Leyen said the bloc will be proposing sanctions that would target Iranian entities that are involved in the war. The proposal would be part of the 10th round of sanctions, worth over $11 billion, and would target new trade bans and technology export controls including drones, helicopters, and missiles.

“For the first time, we are also proposing to sanction Iranian entities including those linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard,” von der Leyen told lawmakers.

Iran has come under heavy scrutiny in recent months due to its alleged supply of drones to Russia that was used in Ukraine. Iran has also been subject to widespread condemnation due to Tehran’s crackdown on the ongoing protests taking place across the country since September.

Over the weekend, the Islamic Republic marked the 44th anniversary of the 1979 Revolution by holding organized rallies as anti-Iranian government hackers briefly interrupted the televised remarks by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi. Raisi’s remarks were interrupted for a moment on the internet, showing the logo of an anti-Iranian government hacker group that is referred to as “Edalate Ali” with a voice that could be heard shouting “Death to the Islamic Republic.”

Iran has been under unrest since September, when a Kurdish Iranian woman, Mahsa Amini, died in the custody of the morality police. Amini died days after she was detained for allegedly violating the Islamic dress code for women, sparking public outrage. Tehran has sought to crack down on the protests, blaming its foreign adversaries such as the United States and Israel for fomenting what it refers to as “riots.”

Iran’s hardline judiciary has already executed four people on protest-related charges, and hundreds have been killed in Tehran’s crackdown on the demonstrations.

During his speech, Raisi said the “deceived youth” must repent so they can be given a pardon by Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.