Consensus found during the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting. Kallas: “Repression cannot remain unanswered.”
While in the Middle East the pressure on Iran continues to grow, between an ever-increasing deployment of American forces and frenetic diplomatic contacts between mediators, today the European Union’s Foreign Affairs Council launched new sanctions against the Tehran regime.
Among them, there is the historic decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (the Pasdaran) as a terrorist organizationa measure that had already been anticipated in recent days by the Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
The announcement
The announcement of the achievement of an agreement between the foreign ministers of the 27 member countries was made by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas.
“Repression cannot go unanswered. EU foreign ministers have just taken the decisive step of designating the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organisation. Any regime that kills thousands of its fellow citizens is working for its own downfall.”
The measure then arrives as response to repression carried out by Iranian government forces towards demonstrators during the strong protests at the beginning of January, for which the Iranian government had also started a total internet blackout (restored only a few days ago).
At the side of the meeting of ministers, Antonio Tajani declared how it emerged “a great consensus” on the definition of the Pasdaran as a terrorist organization, nevertheless, “this does not mean that dialogue should not be held” with Tehran, added the Italian minister.
The President of the European Commission also rejoices Ursula von der Leyen: “I welcome the political agreement on new sanctions against Iran’s murderous regime and on the designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization. Europe stands with the Iranian people in their courageous fight for freedom.”
Sanctions on Iranian ministers and Pasdaran figures
The Council of the EU also decided to impose sanctions on 15 people and six entitiesalways held responsible for the brutal repression in Iran. Among these there is also the Minister of the Interior of Tehran, Eskandar Momeniwhich “in this capacity controls the Iranian law enforcement agencies, responsible for blatant and serious violations of human rights in the country”, we read in the reasons.
“Momeni also holds the position of deputy commander in chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and in this capacity controls several Pasdaran security forces, including the Basij forces.”
In addition to Momeni, three commanders of the Revolutionary Guards also appear on the list of those sanctioned: Haidar Olfati, Morteza Sheikhi and Seyed Ali-Asghar Pourbehesht. To which are added the attorney general Mohammad Movahedi-azad and the head of the public security police Seyed Majid Feiz Jafari.
Support for Ukraine
However, the Council opened in the morning with a speech by the High Representative Kaja Kallasin which the former Estonian prime minister complained about how “the international order is under great pressure and transatlantic relations are no longer what they used to be”.
Ample space was therefore dedicated to the conflict in Ukraine. Where the High Representative expressed skepticism about the ongoing talks in Abu Dhabiasserting that the Russian delegation, composed exclusively of military personnel, appears “without a mandate to seriously negotiate peace.”
Therefore, given the great Russian offensive against the Ukrainian energy system, with a new cold wave that will bring temperatures to -20 degrees in the next few days, it is considering strengthening energy support to Kiev.
Kallas also announced the inclusion of Russia in the list of countries at high risk for money launderingbelieving that economic pressure is a key tool to push Moscow towards genuine negotiations.
