Iran: EU imposes sanctions on 29 individuals, three organizations over crackdown on protests

The European Union has imposed new sanctions on Iran, targeting individuals and organizations linked to Tehran’s crackdown on the anti-government protests. 29 individuals and three organizations are targeted by the new penalties in response to the violent crackdown on the demonstrations.

A statement by the bloc announced that 29 individuals and three organizations are the targets of the new sanctions imposed on Iran in condemnation of Tehran’s violent crackdown on the unrest.

Protests across the country took place following the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the morality police, mostly led by women and students. Tehran has also accused its enemies, especially the United States and Israel, of using local agents to start the unrest.

“We stand with the Iranian people and support their right to protest peacefully and voice their demands and views freely,” said the EU’s foreign policy chief Josep Borrell.

German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock told reporters in Brussels that the sanctions are meant “to send a clear message to those who think they can suppress, intimidate, and kill their own people without consequences.” Baerbock added that the “world, Europe is watching.”

The new sanctions that include travel bans and asset freezes include four members of the unit that arrested Amini back in September, high-ranking officials of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards, and Iranian interior minister Ahmad Vahidi.

The first set of sanctions on Tehran was imposed in October, targeting 15 individuals and institutions linked to Amini’s death and the crackdown on the protests. So far, hundreds of protesters have been killed by the security forces, with thousands detained, according to the activist HRANA news outlet. The recent protests are the largest show of opposition to the clerical leaders since the 1979 Revolution.

Aside from the protests following Amini’s death, Iranians also went on strike in several cities to commemorate the 2019 demonstrations over fuel prices in another show of opposition to the Islamic Republic’s clerical regime.

Videos on social media showed gatherings and strikes taking place in the country, and footage shared on Twitter showed shops closed down in the Tehran Bazaar, with people gathering to chant anti-government slogans.