Iran - Q&A from the press briefing (10 March 2021)

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Q : The U.S. State Department blacklisted two Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) officials on Tuesday, accusing them of human rights violations. They also indicated that they would work with their allies on violations and abuses. The EU hasn’t imposed sanctions on Iranian officials for human rights violations since 2013. Do you think this might change as the human rights situation deteriorates in that country?

A : France remains very concerned by the human rights situation in Iran, particularly as it relates to freedom of expression and the press, which has worsened since the crackdown on the protest movement in November 2019. It regularly expresses its expectations on this subject and will continue to do so in the future.

The EU retains the ability to adopt sanctions against individuals and entities implicated in serious human rights violations in Iran. Along with its European partners, France remains vigilant on the issue of human rights in Iran, separately from its efforts to preserve the JCPoA and bring the United States and Iran back to their commitments under the agreement.