Europe to impose new sanctions against Iran

The European Union imposed sanctions on eight Iranians and a mobile telecommunications provider in its latest effort to target individuals and organisations it holds responsible for human rights abuses in Iran.

The Council of the EU, which brings together the bloc’s member countries, said it was sanctioning Ariantel.

Other additions to the EU’s sanctions list include lawmakers in the Iranian Parliament, members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the IRCG Cooperative Foundation - the body responsible for managing the IRGC’s investments.

The latest measures mean 211 individuals and 35 entities are now under EU sanctions, the EU Council said in a statement.

This means a freeze on any assets they hold inside the EU and a ban on travel to the bloc. EU companies are also banned from making funds available to those under sanctions.