Brussels, 12/04/2016 (Agence Europe) - By publishing the legal acts in the Official Journal on Tuesday 12 April, the European Union officially extended by one year restrictions on 82 individuals and one entity in connection with the human rights situation in Iran.
The 82 individuals include judges, prosecutors, the military, policemen and politicians, and the one entity is the centre for investigating organised crime. They have had their assets frozen and an EU travel ban has been issued against them. The restrictions will now run until 13 April 2017.
The European Union first decided to issue sanctions linked to human rights violations in April 2011 (see EUROPE 10358). In addition to the freezing of assets and the visa bans, the EU also forbids the export to Iran of equipment that could be used for internal repression or equipment for telecommunications surveillance.
This renewal of sanctions comes just before a visit to Tehran by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, on 16 and 17 April, accompanied by seven European commissioners. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)