EU Sanctions Iranian Judges, Cyber Figure Over Rights Abuses; While Iranian Regime Urges Europe to Condemn US Strikes

24/07/2026

EU Sanctions Iranian Judges, Cyber Figure Over Rights Abuses; While Iranian Regime Urges Europe to Condemn US Strikes

BRUSSELS, July 24: The European Union on Friday imposed new sanctions on five Iranian judges and a prominent cyber-group figure over what it described as serious human rights violations, while Iran called on European countries to condemn recent US attacks and uphold international law.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the bloc remained focused on Iran's human rights record despite the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

"While the world's attention is on the war in the Middle East, we can't lose sight of Iran's repression against its own people," Kallas wrote on X.

The EU said the sanctioned judges, serving on regional Revolutionary Courts, had overseen cases involving religious minorities, political dissidents and human rights activists, including Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi. According to the bloc, the judges handed down death sentences, lengthy prison terms, flogging and other punishments, including in connection with the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom protests that followed the death of Mahsa Amini.

The sanctions also target Nima Salehi, founder of the Ashiyane cyber group. The EU accused Salehi of assisting Iranian authorities in suppressing dissent through cyber operations, alleging that Ashiyane worked closely with Iran's Cyber Police (FATA) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and carried out cyberattacks against domestic opponents and foreign institutions.

"As Tehran intensifies its domestic crackdown, the EU will continue to hold those responsible to account," Kallas said.

The EU said its Iran human rights sanctions regime now includes 269 individuals and 53 entities. The measures impose asset freezes, travel bans, restrictions on making funds available to those listed, and export controls on equipment that could be used for internal repression, including telecommunications monitoring technology.

Meanwhile, Iran urged European countries to defend international law by condemning recent US attacks on the country.

Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said in a post on X that while some European countries, including Spain, had adopted what he described as "principled positions," any nation allowing the United States to use its bases or territory for attacks would be considered "among the aggressors."

Gharibabadi also argued that the conflicts had brought the United States "no strategic gains" and had instead increased risks to regional and global security.