LegalizeCouncil Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1779 of 15 September 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Iran
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| 15.9.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | LI 228/1 |
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 of 12 April 2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Iran 1, and in particular Article 12(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
- (1) On 12 April 2011, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) No 359/2011.
- (2) On 25 September 2022, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a declaration on behalf of the Union deploring the widespread and disproportionate use of force by the Iranian security forces against non-violent protestors, noting that it had resulted in the loss of lives as well as a large number of injuries. The declaration also spelled out that those responsible for the killing of Mahsa Amini must be held accountable, and called on the Iranian authorities to ensure transparent and credible investigations to clarify the number of deaths and arrests, to release all non-violent protestors and to provide due process to all detainees. Furthermore, the declaration stressed that Iran’s decision to severely restrict internet access and block instant messaging platforms blatantly violates freedom of expression. Finally, the declaration stated that the Union will consider all the options at its disposal to address the killing of Mahsa Amini and the way Iranian security forces have responded to the ensuing demonstrations.
- (3) In that context, and in line with the Union’s commitment to address all issues of concern with Iran, including the human rights situation, as confirmed in the Council conclusions of 12 December 2022, four persons and six entities should be included in the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 359/2011.
- (4) Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 15 September 2023.
For the Council
The President
P. NAVARRO RÍOS
ANNEX
The following persons and entities are added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 359/2011:
Persons
| Name | Identifying information | Reasons | Date of listing | |
| ‘234. | PARVAR Gholamhossein Gheib | Function: Deputy to the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Imam Ali Central Security Headquarters Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Gholamhossein Gheib Parvar is the Deputy to the Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Imam Ali Central Security Headquarters. In this capacity at the Imam Ali Central Security Headquarters, which was formed with the aim of suppressing popular protests, he was responsible for killing and suppressing protesters during the November 2019 nationwide protests. In his previous function, as head of the Basij Organisation, he was responsible for the killing and brutal suppression of protesters by forces under his command during the nationwide protests in Iran from December 2017 to January 2018. Gholamhossein Gheib Parvar is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 15.9.2023 |
| 235. | SHAHRESTANI Hassan Mofakhami حسن مفخمی شهرستانی (a.ka. MOFAKHAMI-SHAHRESTANI Hassan; MOFAKHAMISHAHRESRANI Hassan) | Function: Police Commander of Mazandaran Province Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Hassan Mofakhami Shahrestani is the police commander of the Mazandaran Province. He has a long track record of functions related to violently suppressing peaceful protests. In June 2023, he explicitly ordered people to break the neck of anyone seeking to defy hijab norms. Hassan Mofakhami Shahrestani is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 15.9.2023 |
| 236. | HABIBI Roham Bakhsh رهام بخش حبیبی (a.k.a. HABIBI Roham-Bakhsh; HABIBI Rohambakhsh) | Function: Police Commander of Fars Province Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Roham Bakhsh Habibi is the police commander of the Fars Province and has a track record related to violently suppressing peaceful protests. As police commander of the Fars province, he is responsible for the mass arrest of protesters and ordering the use of deadly weapons against unarmed protesters in this province during the nationwide protests of November 2019. It is reported that forces under his command in the Fars Province violently suppressed protests in November 2019 and killed people. Roham Bakhsh Habibi is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 15.9.2023 |
| 237. | TAHAMI Seyyed Javad سید جواد تهامی (a.k.a. TAHAMI Seyed Javad) (a.k.a. سید جواد تهامی) | Function: Prison Official of Fardis prison /Kachui Prison Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Seyyed Javad Tahami is the head of Kachui Prison, also known as Fardis Prison, and, in this capacity, he oversees all activities within the prison. Kachui prison is an institution controlled by the Prison Division of the Judiciary and is frequently used to detain political prisoners and house them in inadequate conditions which violate their human rights. Furthermore, the evidence confirms that executions have occurred within the penitentiary. Seyyed Javad Tahami is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 15.9.2023’ |
Entities
| Name | Identifying information | Reasons | Date of listing | |
| ‘38. | Tasnim Cultural Institution Organization (a.k.a. Tasnim News Agency) خبرگزاری تسنیم | Type of entity: Media outlet Place of registration: Iran Date of registration: June 30, 2012 | Tasnim News agency is the largest Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) affiliated media outlet and serves as a propaganda machine for the Iranian regime whose coverage frequently reflects hard-line Iranian views. The news outlet is responsible for publishing false confessions by protesters on its website and social media accounts as well as for posting pictures of protestors on social media and asking readers to help identify them. Tasnim News is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 15.9.2023 |
| 39. | Supreme Council of Cyberspace (SCC) | Type of entity: Government Entity Place of registration: Iran Date of registration: 2012 | The Supreme Council of Cyberspace (SCC) is responsible for restricting access to the internet for the Iranian population in order to prevent or oppress protests and limit access to open and free information, thereby violating the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers. The SCC is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 15.9.2023 |
| 40. | Sanandaj Central Prison زندان مرکزی سنندج | Type of entity: Prison Place of registration: Kordestan, north-western Iran | Sanandaj Central Prison is an institution controlled by the Prison Divison of the Judiciary that is frequently used to detain political prisoners and house them in inadequate conditions which violate their human rights. Further, the evidence confirms that multiple executions have occurred within the penitentiary. Sanandaj Central Prison is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 15.9.2023 |
| 41. | Zahedan Prison زندان مرکزی زاهدان | Type of entity: Prison Place of registration: Zahedan, Iran | Zahedan Prison is an institution controlled by the Prison Division of the Judiciary that is frequently used to detain political prisoners and house them in inadequate conditions which violate their human rights. Further, the evidence confirms that mass executions have occurred within the penitentiary. Zahedan Prison is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 15.9.2023 |
| 42. | Isfahan Central Prison (a.k.a. Dastgerd Prison; Prison of Isfahan; Esfahan Prison; Isfahan Prison) | Type of entity: Prison Place of registration: Isfahan, Iran | Isfahan Central Prison is an institution controlled by the Prison Division of the Judiciary that is frequently used to detain political prisoners and house them in inadequate conditions which violate their human rights. Further, the evidence confirms that multiple executions have occurred within the penitentiary. Isfahan Central Prison is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 15.9.2023 |
| 43. | Kachui Prison (a.k.a. Kachouii Prison; Kechoui Prison; Kachuyi Prison; Fardis Prison) | Type of entity: Prison Place of registration: Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran | Kachui prison is an institution controlled by the Prison Division of the Judiciary that is frequently used to detain political prisoners and house them in inadequate conditions which violate their human rights. Further, the evidence confirms that executions have occurred within the penitentiary. Kachui Prison is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 15.9.2023’ |
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