Iran warned European diplomats against such “unconstructive behavior”
Tehran:
Iran has criticized Western countries, including arch-enemy the United States, over what it called an “illegal” decision to impose new sanctions on the Islamic Republic. The United States, Britain and the European Union announced new sanctions against several Iranian individuals and organizations on Friday, the eve of the first anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death in police custody.
Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, died on September 16, 2022, after being arrested in Tehran for an alleged violation of the Islamic Republic’s strict dress code for women.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani criticized the “illegal and undiplomatic actions” of Western countries in a statement late Friday.
Kanani also condemned the “interventionist actions and statements as well as the ridiculous and hypocritical” expressions of support for the protest movement.
He warned European diplomats against such “unconstructive behavior” that “does not serve their interests.”
Friday’s U.S. sanctions targeted 25 Iranian officials, three media companies and an internet censorship firm that were on its sanctions blacklist, saying all were linked to Tehran’s suppression of protests following Amini’s death.
Most were regional commanders of the national police and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Also sanctioned was Gholamali Mohammadi, the head of Iran’s prison organization, who the US Treasury Department says is responsible for serious human rights violations such as torture and rape.
Three media companies – state-controlled Press TV and news agencies Tasnim and Fars – were also blacklisted.
The UK’s sanctions included Iran’s Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance Mohammad Mehdi Esmaili, his deputy Mohammad Hashemi, Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani and Iranian police spokesman Saeed Montazer Almehdi.
The European Union has added four Iranian officials to its own blacklist – a Revolutionary Guard commander, two regional police chiefs and the head of a prison.
The sanctions were also coordinated with Canada and Australia.
Last year’s Amini protests left hundreds of people dead, including dozens of security forces, and thousands arrested in what Tehran described as “riots” instigated by foreign governments.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
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