EU Adds 'Execution of Death Penalty' as Additional Sanction... Russia Exempted

Second Arrest of Hijab Protest Participant
UK and International Community Continue Sanctions

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] The European Union (EU) is escalating pressure on Iranian authorities by imposing additional sanctions in response to the execution of protesters involved in the 'hijab suspicious death' demonstrations and Iran's military support to Russia. A proposed EU-wide sanction package aimed at blocking imports of Iranian weapons and cutting off financial support to Russian President Vladimir Putin failed due to a lack of consensus among member states.

On the 12th (local time), the EU Foreign Affairs Council held a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, and announced additional sanctions against 24 Iranian individuals and 5 organizations. The sanctions target those involved in human rights violations occurring in Iran, including the forced suppression of anti-government protests, with the state-run IRIB broadcasting corporation also named.

The EU pointed out that IRIB, as a broadcaster representing the Iranian regime, is responsible for human rights abuses by airing 'forced confessions' of government critics obtained through intimidation and severe violence. Three individuals were added to the sanctions list, including IRIB representative Peyman Jebelli, IRIB anchor Ali Rezvani, and journalist Amene Sadat Zabipour.

Additionally, numerous high-ranking officials, including conservative hardline religious leader Seyyed Ahmad Khatami and Iranian military generals, were included. They were sanctioned for their involvement in military support such as supplying drones to Russia.

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, ahead of the meeting, told reporters about the measures against Iran, "We will approve a very strong sanctions package today," signaling the imposition of tough sanctions.

Borrell said that on the 9th, the day after Iran carried out its first execution, he spoke with Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian to express concerns about the situation inside Iran and Iran's military support to Russia, but described the conversation as "not an easy dialogue."

He emphasized, "Iran must know that the EU will strongly condemn them and take any measures to support Iranian women and peaceful assemblies within Iran," adding, "We absolutely reject the executions."

Following the first execution on the 8th of 23-year-old protester Mosen Shekari related to the hijab suspicious death protests, a second execution was carried out five days later on another protester, Majidreza Rahnavard.

The execution of Rahnavard was publicly conducted on a street in downtown Mashhad, and Mizan News Agency, operated by the Iranian judiciary, published photos showing Rahnavard hanging from a crane with a rope tied around him.

In response to these inhumane executions, the UK and Canada also stepped up sanctions pressure. The UK government announced sanctions on over 30 Iranian officials who have handed down harsh sentences to protesters on the 9th, while the Canadian government imposed sanctions on 22 individuals, including close aides to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, judicial and correctional officials, and police officers.

International condemnation continues. The United States warned that it will hold the Iranian regime accountable for the violence committed against its citizens, and Spain condemned the executions in the strongest terms, urging the Iranian government to respect the basic rights of its people.

Meanwhile, the meeting did not reach an agreement on implementing the recently proposed 9th round of sanctions against Russia by the EU Commission.

Borrell explained that while there was consensus among member states on sanctioning nearly 200 Russian individuals under the 9th sanctions package, disagreements remained over the detailed content and methods of the overall sanctions. He added that he hopes an agreement among member states will be reached by the end of this week.

Earlier, on the 7th, the Commission proposed the 9th round of sanctions against Russia, which includes measures to prevent the export of drone engines to third countries such as Iran that could potentially export finished drones to Russia. This move targets Russia's extensive use of Iranian-made suicide drones like the 'Shahed 136' in attacks on Ukraine.

Additionally, to cut off President Putin's war funding, three Russian banks, including the state-owned Russian Regional Development Bank (RDB), were added to the sanctions list. Export restrictions on chemicals and key technologies that could have military applications were also proposed.