The EU foreign ministers have approved new sanctions against Iran, targeting a list of individuals and organisations that are alleged to have taken part in the violent suppression of protests and in supporting Russia. Later in the day a decision is expected to add the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to the EU’s official list of terrorist organisations.
Under the new measures the assets of the identified persons and entities are to be frozen within the EU. EU citizens and companies will be prohibited from providing any financial support to them, and the sanctions include entry bans for the affected individuals. The list of goods that may no longer be exported from the EU to Iran will also be expanded.
Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) had previously described the addition of the IRGC to the terror list as “urgent and necessary”, and he has labelled the Iranian leadership an “unjust regime”. EU Commissioner for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas said that there is a consensus on the IRGC listing, but she added that diplomatic channels with Iran should remain open. The designation of the IRGC as a terrorist group is largely symbolic; given the existing sanctions it is unlikely to have much practical effect.
