On April 24, 2023, the Council of the EU announced that it imposed restrictive measures upon 8 additional individuals and 1 entity following its adoption of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/846 and Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2021/849. The new listings include Iranian mobile service provider Ariantel, which has been purportedly used by the Iranian government to surveil and repress those who are critical of the Iranian government, and the IRCG Cooperative Foundation, which is the body responsible for managing the investments of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp (“IRGC”), a group responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. The EU also sanctioned members of the IRGC and several lawmakers in the Iranian Parliament, including Nobaveh Vatan, who has allegedly supported the killing, detention and torture of protestors in Iran in 2022 and 2023 and responsible for legislation enforcing restrictive clothing rules that essentially create a boycott against individuals and entities that interact with non-compliant women.
All of the new designees are now subject to restrictive measures, including asset freezes and travel bans. The designations also prohibit individuals and entities in the EU from making funds or economic resources available to listed individual and entities. The EU has also banned exports of certain equipment to Iran that the government may use to monitor telecommunications or repress people of Iran.
Council of the EU Press Release | Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/846 | Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2023/849