The European Union will approve new sanctions on Monday targeting around 30 Iranian officials, in response to the crackdown on protests sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini.
“Today we are going to approve a new set of sanctions against those responsible for the repression of demonstrators” in Iran, announced the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell, after meeting the day before with the minister Iranian Foreign Affairs.
“We are going to approve the sanctions prepared by our services. They are targeting around 30 people,” confirmed Luxembourg Minister Jean Asselborn.
Tehran announced a “proportionate and firm” response. “We are ready for this eventuality, but it will be a mistake,” warned Josep Borrell.
The EU last month froze the assets and banned visas of officials from the “morality” police, the Revolutionary Guards and Iran’s information technology minister.
EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels will also discuss Iran’s involvement in the conflict in Ukraine, with the delivery to Russia of suicide drones used to strike civilian energy infrastructure in Ukraine.
Last month, the European Union also imposed an asset freeze and visa ban on the Iranian drone maker and three senior military officials for the shipments.
Some member states are pushing for the EU to expand punitive measures regarding arms supplies to Russia.
A senior EU official said the union was examining reports of a possible delivery of ballistic missiles from Iran to Russia and would further sanction Tehran if the weapons were sent.
Mr. Borrell said to date that he has “no evidence” regarding the delivery of ballistic missiles.
The EU is in a tricky exercise with Tehran as Josep Borrell plays a mediating role to revive the 2015 Iran nuclear deal.
Efforts to bring Iran and the United States back on board the deal have largely stalled. “The deal is not on track, you know, it’s stalled, but the work is continuing,” Borrell said.