Jean-Noël Barrot, France’s foreign minister, announced that the EU Foreign Affairs Council has approved sanctions against individuals and entities that threaten Europe’s interests. Among those sanctioned are nine Iranian individuals and entities.
These individuals and entities are accused of spreading terrorism on European soil.
Barrot said on Tuesday that Europeans have frozen the assets of nine Iranian individuals and entities responsible for terrorism in Europe and have banned them from entering EU territory.
He added that this was the result of efforts he personally led and that he welcomes the outcome.
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The French foreign minister also called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of French citizens detained in Iran and emphasized the need for International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors to return and for the launch of a new diplomatic process to curb Tehran’s destabilizing behavior.
Barrot also expressed hope that sanctions against Russia would be approved in the near future.
Who are the sanctioned individuals?
The sanctioned individuals are accused of directly designing and executing assassinations and security operations against opponents of Iran’s regime in European countries.
According to the published statement, the list includes Mohammadreza Ansari, commander of Unit 840 of the Quds Force of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Also named are Naji Ibrahim Zindashti; Abdolwahab Kochak, Zindashti’s operative and the assassin of Masoud Molavi; Ali Esfanjani, an Intelligence Ministry agent and accomplice in Molavi’s killing; Ali Kocak, Zindashti’s associate and a suspect in the murder of Saeed Karimian; Ekrem Abdulkarim Oztunc, Zindashti’s niece and member of his network; Nihat Abdolghadir Asan, another member of the Zein-Dashti network; and Reza Hamidi Ravari, a Ministry of Intelligence official who oversaw Zindashti’s operations, including the assassination of Iranian regime opponents.
The network affiliated with Naji Zindashtihas also been designated as a sanctioned entity.
This move by the European Union comes after repeated warnings from European officials in recent months about increased intelligence and terrorist activities by Iran’s regime on European soil.
The sanctions were announced shortly after the French foreign minister warned that if nuclear talks with Iran’s regime do not result in a “verifiable agreement,” the snapback mechanism against Iran will be activated on August 31.