EU sanctions 29 Iranian individuals, 3 entities over alleged crackdown

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The European Union on Monday imposed sanctions on 29 Iranian officials and three organizations for the alleged crackdown on the western-backed riots following the death of Mahsa Amini.  

Those hit with visa bans and asset freezes included Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi and state broadcaster Press TV, which was accused of airing "forced confessions of detainees," an EU statement said. 

On her part, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock claimed that the new EU sanctions against Tehran over the alleged crackdown on Western-backed protests that took advantage of the accidental death of Mahsa Amini target key figures responsible for funding Iran's military, the IRGC. 

According to the representative office of the Czech Presidency of the EU Council, the decision will enter into force after the list is issued in the EU official journal, with the names of the sanctioned entities yet to be revealed.

"The new sanctions will primarily affect the inner circles of power of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and structures financing them," Baerbock told reporters at the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, adding that the sanctions are intended to threaten Tehran with "severe consequences" over its alleged harassment of protesters.

"I said already a couple of days ago that the revolutionary guards are responsible for the incredible crimes committed in Iran and that we also have to look at the question of terrorism. However,... this is not only a political declaration. This is to be based on the rule of law. And we have a clear sanction system here, in the EU, also with regard to terrorist listing. That is why we have to look at every single case so carefully," Baerbock added.

A clear signal of the #EU to the regime in #Iran: “If it believes that it can suppress, intimidate or kill its citizens - (…) that has consequences,“ underlined 🇩🇪 Foreign Affairs Minister @ABaerbock ahead of the #FAC. ➡️ Further sanctions will therefore be imposed by the 🇪🇺. pic.twitter.com/XkqTpuQyVo

— Germany in the EU (@germanyintheeu) November 14, 2022

Earlier today, the UN Human Rights Council announced that it will be holding an urgent session this month on Iran in order to discuss the armed riots currently taking place in the country and the government's response to them.

The UN's highest rights body said a special session on what they called "the deteriorating human rights situation" in Iran will be held on November 24; the decision came after the German and Icelandic ambassadors to the UN submitted a request for a meeting on Friday.

Read more: Bolton: 'Opposition' in Iran is armed

Ever since Iran gained complete autonomy following its 1979 revolution, the country has been the target of excruciating sanctions from the West.

Despite the injustice, Iran managed to gain 100% military self-sufficiency, defying all the odds as the West scrambles to subdue the nation. 

Although Iran offered to help the EU with its energy needs, the bloc has instead aimed at sabotaging the country by sending spies and foreign agents and commissioning dissidents to disrupt the country's civil order. 

Amini died of health complications on September 16 while under police custody in Tehran.

Her death initially sparked sporadic protests after it was thought that the police were responsible for her death. 

But later, protests kept growing despite reports showing her death was caused by illness.

On October 2, the Shura council confirmed that over 45,000 foreign intelligence servicepersons were behind the riots, mostly from western countries, and possessed evidence to back its claims. 

On October 19, the Iranian Fars news agency said the German Embassy played a role "in igniting the riots in the country, and embassy officials held meetings with officials of a number of other European embassies to expand the conflict and tension in Iran." 

Read more: Leaked: BBC Persian journalist says media conspiring to weaken Iran