The European Union has for the first time since 2013 issued sanctions against Iran and the Islamic Revolution Guards (IRGC) citing human rights concern.
The bloc on Monday blacklisted IRGC chief commander General Hossein Salaami as well as seven commanders of the Basij paramilitary force.
The travel bans and asset freezes which were reportedly in the pipes for over a month, were the EU’s response to 8ran’s crack down on the protest that shook the country back in 2019. The list also included three infamous prisons.
“Hossein Salami took part in the sessions that resulted in the orders to use lethal force to suppress the November 2019 protests. Hossein Salami therefore bears responsibility for serious human rights violations in Iran,” the EU said in its Official Journal.
The Iranian government has admitted that over 200 people were killed in the clashes over a hike in gasoline prices, even though unofficial reports put the death toll at over 1,000.
On Monday, Tehran rejected the EU sanctions as “invalid.”
“In response, Iran suspends comprehensive talks with the EU, including human rights talks and all cooperation resulting from these talks, especially in the areas of terrorism, drugs and refugees,” Iranian media quoted Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh as saying.
