European Parliament President Roberta Metsola has announced a ban on all Iranian diplomats and representatives from the European Parliament’s facilities in response to the Iranian government’s violent crackdown on protesters. This ban will apply to all Parliament locations in Brussels, Strasbourg, and Luxembourg, and will remain in effect until a subsequent president’s decision lifts it.
In parallel, the European Union is preparing to implement additional sanctions against Iran in light of its repression of demonstrators. Earlier on Monday, a spokesperson for the European Commission indicated that Brussels is developing “new, more severe” sanctions targeting individuals and entities implicated in serious human rights violations and abuses.
However, “this is a decision for member states to take unanimously,” the Commission spokesperson said.
The spokesperson also noted that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a military force under the direct command of the Ayatollah, is already subject to EU sanctions. Yet, it has not been designated as a terrorist organisation, an issue that has been under consideration for several years.
Under current EU regulations, inclusion of an individual or entity on the terrorist list requires a decision by a judicial authority in one of the 27 member states. In late 2024, EU officials identified a legal basis for such a designation, following a ruling from the Düsseldorf Higher Regional Court, which determined that an Iranian state agency was behind the 2022 attack against the Bochum synagogue in western Germany. Despite this significant development, discussions have stalled, and no subsequent decisions have been reached.
Germany, France, and the Netherlands have expressed support for initiatives regarding Iran. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the European Parliament also back these efforts. The EU’s statements come as Iran’s death toll rises amid protests that started on December 28 over the collapse of the rial. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reports over 10,600 detentions and more than 500 deaths during the protests. Among the fatalities, 48 were security personnel, and 496 were demonstrators.
Additionally, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has met with European ambassadors, who voiced their concerns about the government’s crackdown.
