EU Council targets human rights violations in Iran

The EU Council adopted Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2026/1850 implementing Decision 2011/235/CFSP imposing asset freezing sanctions on six individuals under the the EU's Iran human rights sanctions list. Five of the six are judges of Iranian Revolutionary and criminal courts designated for presiding over trials of political dissidents, religious minorities, and women's rights activists (including Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi) marked by serious due-process violations, on charges including those tied to the 2022 "Woman, Life, Freedom" protests, and for imposing death sentences, long prison terms, and flogging. The sixth individual is designated as founder and deputy leader of the "Ashiyane" cyber group, which cooperates with the EU-listed Cyber Police (FATA) and the IRGC in cyberattacks supporting the regime's crackdown on opposition figures.