Brussels, 11/03/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 11 March, the EU27 foreign affairs ministers prolonged for one year the EU's restrictive measures against Iran with regard to human rights “in response to serious violations”. The measures are now applicable until 13 April 2014.
The Council also extended the sanctions, adding nine people “responsible for serious violations of human rights” to the list of individuals subject to a visa ban and assets freeze. There are now 87 people on this list. For the first time, an entity - from the public sector - which is also responsible for human rights violations is subject to an assets freeze. These legislative acts will be published in the Official Journal of the EU on 12 March.
The EU measures with regard to human rights in Iran also include a ban on exporting internet and telephone communication surveillance material, and a ban on exporting equipment which is likely to be used for internal repression. Besides the sanctions on human rights, the EU is applying numerous restrictive measures against the country concerning its nuclear programme. (CG/transl.fl)