The EU is poised to slap sanctions on Iran as global outrage continues about the Iranian government’s clampdown on protesters following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini.
EU foreign ministers are expected to approve the penalties at a meeting in Luxembourg on Monday. The sanctions will likely hit up to 16 individuals and entities in direct response to the lethal government suppression of demonstrators who have taken to the streets following the death of the Iranian woman.
Amini died last month while in the custody of Iran’s morality police after being detained for wearing “inappropriate attire.” Since then, Iranian police have killed dozens of protesters and wounded or arrested thousands more, according to human rights groups.
The EU’s imminent move — which ambassadors approved earlier this week but still needs sign-off from the ministers gathering on Monday — follows similar actions by Western countries in recent days, including the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada.
The current protests in Iran have been taking place for more than three weeks, and represent one of the biggest challenges to the Iranian leadership in decades.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell spoke to Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Friday, urging the release of protesters and calling for a stop to the “violent repression” in the country.
“People in Iran have the right to peaceful protest and to defend fundamental rights,” Borrell said on Twitter. “Violent repression must stop immediately.”
The decision to up the pressure on Iran comes at a sensitive time for the EU as negotiations continue on restoring the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA.
As POLITICO reported this week, Iran wrote to EU countries this week, warning of repercussions for the relationship between the EU and Iran if the bloc presses ahead with sanctions.
“If Europe misses taking the nuances of the current situation into consideration, the ramification will be grave and the bilateral relations may not survive it,” warned one letter sent to EU ambassadors.
While Monday’s sanctions are being prepared in direct response to the events following the death of Amini, ministers will also discuss recent reports that Iranian-made drones were used in this week’s strikes against Ukraine, including civilian targets.
Specifically, EU officials said Brussels will first await the results of its own independent assessment of the drones, though a senior official vowed the bloc would not be idle.
“We will be taking action,” the official said.
Part of Monday’s discussion, according to one EU diplomat, will be the question of whether the drones were sent to Russia by Iran before or after the start of the war in Ukraine in February.
Stephanie Liechtenstein and Jacopo Barigazzi contributed reporting.
