Brussels, 21/03/2011 (Agence Europe) - The EU says it is very concerned about the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. There has been a sharp rise in the number of people executed in recent months and Iranian human rights activists, bloggers, ethnic minorities, non-Muslims and opposition figures are subject to systematic repression, explained the EU foreign ministers in a conclusions document published on Monday 21 March. The ministers urged Iran to respect its international commitments in the field of human rights, to release all political prisoners immediately and to stop putting people to death. The EU conclusions document says it is determined to issue sanctions rapidly against individuals infringing human rights but says it is prepared to keep channels of communication open to discuss human rights with the Iranian government. (H.B./transl.fl)