The European Union imposed sanctions on eight individuals and one entity of the Islamic Republic of Iran
On Tuesday, July 24, the Council of the European Union issued a statement imposing sanctions on eight individuals and an entity linked to the Islamic Republic for serious human rights violations and cross-border repression
According to this statement, the sanctioned individuals and entity have committed acts on behalf of the Islamic Republic’s institutions, particularly the Ministry of Intelligence and the IRGC Intelligence, abroad, including extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, and the assassination of opponents and critics
At the top of this list is the Zindashti network, a criminal group that has collaborated with the Islamic Republic of Iran’s intelligence agencies and is accused of conducting repressive operations abroad, including the assassination of opponents
The European Union has sanctioned this network due to its extensive execution of cross-border repression, including in the cases of the assassinations of Masoud Molavi Vardanjani and Saeed Karimian
Naji Ibrahim Sharifi Zindashti, the leader of this network, a drug trafficker and head of an organized crime gang, is also on this list
Among his accomplices sanctioned today are Abdolwahab Kouchak, Ali Esfanjani, Ali Kouchak, Akram Oztunc, and Nihat Ashan, who have participated in violent acts and cross-border assassinations
Additionally, Mohammad Ansari, commander of Unit 840 of the Quds Force, for ordering the assassination of journalists critical of the Islamic Republic, and Reza Hamidi Ravari, an intelligence officer of the Ministry of Intelligence overseeing Zindashti’s activities on behalf of the Ministry, have been added to the sanctions list
The named individuals and entities are now subject to asset freezes in EU member states, and any financial support or economic resources for them, whether directly or indirectly, is prohibited
Additionally, these individuals are banned from entering the territory of the European Union
