April 15, 2016
The European Union renewed sanctions against Iran Tuesday over its human rights record.
“The Council [of member states] decided to extend until 13 April 2017 its restrictive measures against 82 people and one entity in view of the human rights situation in Iran,” a statement said.
It said the 28-nation EU had imposed asset freezes and travel bans against Iranians since 2011 over “grave human rights violations” and these measures have been regularly renewed.
These are relatively minor sanctions like the United States uses against people tabbed as human rights violators. They are against individuals or institutions, but not the entire state of Iran. The sanctions freeze any assets found and bars visas being issued to sanctioned people.
The nuclear agreement that took effect in January ended UN, US and EU sanctions imposed for Iran’s nuclear program, but that agreement had no impact on sanctions imposed for human rights violations, terrorism actions or Iran’s missile program.
EU foreign affairs head Federica Mogherini is due to visit Iran shortly to build on the nuclear deal amid continuing tensions over its ballistic missile program and its role in the Middle East, especially in supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad against rebels seeking his ouster.