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EU extends sanctions against Iran

12 April 2017 11:48 (UTC+04:00)
EU extends sanctions against Iran

By Kamila Aliyeva

The European Union extended for another year the duration of sanctions against Iran related to human rights violations, under which 82 people and one legal entity fall, according to the communiqué of the EU Council, RIA Novosti reported.

"On April 11, 2017, the Council extended restrictive measures in response to serious human rights violations in Iran until April 13, 2018," the document said.

The EU recalled that sanctions include a ban on travel to the EU and the freezing of assets of 82 people and one legal entity, and also prohibits the export to Iran of equipment that can be used for internal repression and for tracking telecommunications.

These sanctions were introduced in 2011 and are not subject to the agreements related to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) on the Iranian nuclear issue.

In 2011, the EU imposed the restrictions over the repression of peaceful demonstrators, journalists, human rights defenders and others. The sanctions also target those involved in torture and inhumane treatment.

After the JCPOA went into effect on January 16, 2016, many senior EU officials, often accompanied by large European business delegations, have been traveled in and out of Iran. Iran and several EU states signed many agreements to improve cooperation, particularly in political and economic sectors.

Last August, Iran’s Judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani dismissed the human rights allegations against the country and proposed that the Islamic Republic and Europe initiate a dialog on human rights.

He said human rights have long been a point of friction between Iran and the West, adding Europe and the US are making an “instrumental use” of the issue.

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Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva

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