Iran warned on Monday (October 17th) that it would react "
immediately
" to the sanctions that the European Union is about to impose against Iranian officials in the context of the demonstrations following the death of Mahsa Amini.
A protest movement has shaken Iran since the death on September 16 of this 22-year-old Iranian Kurd, three days after her arrest by the morality police in Tehran for having, according to them, violated the strict dress code of the Republic Islam providing for the wearing of the veil.
“The time has come to punish them”
Dozens of people, mainly protesters but also members of the security forces, have been killed during rallies in Iran, described as "
riots
" by the authorities.
Hundreds of others including women were arrested.
The European Union is to adopt sanctions against officials in Iran on Monday, diplomats say.
“
We must hold accountable those responsible for repressing women.
The time has come to punish them.
The shocking violence inflicted on the Iranian people cannot go unaddressed
,” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen tweeted.
Iran "
will react immediately to the action
" of EU member countries, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani warned at a press conference in Tehran.
“
If they impose new sanctions, it will definitely be an unconstructive and irrational act
,” he said.
Persons sanctioned by the EU for human rights violations are banned from entering the EU and their assets in member states are frozen.
Read alsoIn the Middle East, the demonstrations of support for Mahsa Amini want to reshuffle the cards of the status of women
In April 2011, the EU introduced restrictive measures to sanction serious human rights violations in Iran.
Additional measures were adopted in March 2012, including an embargo on equipment that could be used for internal repression and to monitor or intercept Internet and telephone communications.
These sanctions are in effect until 2023.
