EU Slaps New Sanctions on Iran

EU Headquarters in Brussels (File photo: Reuters)
EU Headquarters in Brussels (File photo: Reuters)
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EU Slaps New Sanctions on Iran

EU Headquarters in Brussels (File photo: Reuters)
EU Headquarters in Brussels (File photo: Reuters)

The European Union on Monday imposed new sanctions on Iran, targeting five officials and two entities for their role in the violent crackdown on mass protests in Iran.

The European Council said that the new sanctions targeted an Iranian official in charge of enforcing the laws of wearing the veil and the Student Basij Organization (SBO), which acts as the IRGC's violent enforcers on university campuses.

German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said before announcing the sanctions that the EU will not accept the human rights violations in Iran.

Baerbock said the enforced hijab means that women's rights in Iran are still not respected, according to the German news agency.

Regarding the new sanctions, the minister said that other people responsible for human rights violations would be included on the sanctions list, especially from the IRGC.

The Council announced that it would also list the IRGC Cooperative Foundation, which is responsible for managing the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps' investments and funneling money into the regime's brutal repression.

The new listings include the current commander of the Tehran Police Relief Unit of Iran's Law Enforcement Forces (LEF).

The new sanctions include an asset freeze, a travel ban to the EU, and a prohibition on making funds or economic resources available to those listed. A ban on exports to Iran of equipment that might be used for internal repression and equipment for monitoring telecommunications is also in place.

EU's restrictive measures now apply to 216 individuals and 37 entities.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International called on Iran to immediately halt its public execution of two Afghans convicted of "armed rebellion."

In a statement, the organization expressed concern after judicial authorities in Fars province announced that the two would be executed soon in Shiraz.

Iranian state media said they were convicted of an armed attack in Shiraz on October 26, 2022.

Amnesty said all countries should condemn the Iranian authorities' appalling use of the death penalty in the strongest possible terms.

The Human Rights Organization in Iran reported last Friday that the judicial authorities executed three protesters in Isfahan Central Prison, which was met with widespread international condemnation.

Iran witnessed protests across the country following the death of the young woman, Mahsa Amini, who died in September last year.



Russia Attacks Energy Infrastructure in Ukraine’s Sumy Region, Local Authorities Say 

A firefighter works at a site of residential buildings heavily damaged by a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine September 8, 2024. (Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy region/Handout via Reuters) 
A firefighter works at a site of residential buildings heavily damaged by a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine September 8, 2024. (Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy region/Handout via Reuters) 
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Russia Attacks Energy Infrastructure in Ukraine’s Sumy Region, Local Authorities Say 

A firefighter works at a site of residential buildings heavily damaged by a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine September 8, 2024. (Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy region/Handout via Reuters) 
A firefighter works at a site of residential buildings heavily damaged by a Russian air strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Sumy, Ukraine September 8, 2024. (Press service of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Sumy region/Handout via Reuters) 

Russian forces attacked energy infrastructure in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, cutting power in some districts and forcing authorities to resort to back-up power systems, local authorities said on Tuesday.

The attack dealt damage in Konotop, Okhtyrka and Sumy districts of the region and the critical infrastructure facilities were using back-up power systems, regional officials said via the Telegram messaging app.

Sumy water supply facilities said that the attack cut power to them at night, prompting the switch to emergency power supply.

Sumy's acting mayor Artem Kobzar said there were no casualties in the city and that energy workers were dealing with the attack's aftermath.

The regional authorities said air defenses shot down 16 drones over the region.

The Ukrainian air force said Russia launched 51 drones to attack the country overnight and that it had shot down 34 of them after the air defense worked in five regions.