EU foreign ministers adopt new sanctions package against Iran

Foreign ministers of the European Union have adopted a new package of sanctions against Iran in response to the violent suppression of mass protests in the country and Tehran’s continued support for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The sanctions target around 30 individuals and entities. Their names will be published in the EU’s Official Journal in the coming days, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The measures include the freezing of assets held within the EU, a ban on the provision of funds by EU citizens and companies, and entry bans to EU member states.

The new sanctions package was adopted without debate. The EU is also expected to consider designating Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation in the near future.

In late December 2025, widespread anti‑government protests erupted across Iran, initially sparked by grievances over soaring inflation, rising food prices, and a collapsing national currency. Demonstrations quickly spread to dozens of cities, including Tehran, as ordinary Iranians expressed broader discontent with economic mismanagement and political repression.

Human rights groups and media outlets have reported thousands of deaths linked to the security crackdown, with activists estimating high casualty figures and European governments condemning Tehran’s use of lethal force. Germany and other EU states formally protested to Iranian diplomats over the violence.

By Khagan Isayev