Background to the sanctions
The EU has highlighted and expressed its concern at the deteriorating human rights situation in Iran. The number of executions has increased markedly. Cruel punishments have been imposed and due process has, in many cases, been very inadequate. Representatives of the Iranian opposition, journalists, human rights defenders and others are being oppressed and harassed and have, in some cases, been arrested for exercising freedom of expression and of assembly. The situation is also extremely serious for certain minority groups, for example the Bahá´í community.
In light of the substantial deterioration of the human rights situation in Iran, particularly since the disputed presidential elections in June 2009, the EU has considered that there is a need to implement concrete measures in the form of sanctions to improve human rights compliance in Iran.
The EU introduces sanctions
The Council of the European Union decided on 12 April 2011 to impose targeted restrictive measures (sanctions) against individuals who have been involved in approving or implementing repressive measures against the civilian population in Iran. The main target group is senior officials in the Iranian administration and certain political representatives.
These legal instruments were subsequently adopted by the Council of the European Union, laying the foundation for a new EU sanctions regime against Iran based on violations of human rights, alongside the existing sanctions regime initiated by the United Nations in response to Iran´s nuclear and missile technology programmes.
On 10 October 2011, the EU Council of Ministers decided to impose targeted restrictive measures (sanctions) on additional persons with reference to the decision of 12 April the same year.
