Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2428 of 12 December 2022 implementing Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Iran
Date: 2022-12-12
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU restrictive measure, Iran, economic sanctions, international sanctions, legal person, natural person








LI2022318EN.01000101.xml










12.12.2022   


EN


Official Journal of the European Union


LI 318/1








            COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2022/2428
of 12 December 2022
         
implementing Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Iran


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 this context, and in line with the Union’s commitment to address all issues of concern with Iran, including the human rights situation, 20 persons and one entity should be included in the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures 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, 12 December 2022.


For the Council


The President

J. BORRELL FONTELLES
            





(1)  
            OJ L 100, 14.4.2011, p. 1.




ANNEX
The following persons and entity 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




‘136.


JEBELLI Peyman
پیمان جبلی


DOB: 25.1.1967
POB: Tehran, Iran
Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Function: Director of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)


Peyman Jebelli is the Director of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), which is notorious for being a regime mouthpiece.
IRIB severely restricts and denies the free flow of information to the Iranian people. Furthermore, IRIB is actively involved in organising and broadcasting forced “confessions” of regime critics, obtained through intimidation and severe violence. These “confessions” are often aired following public protests, or prior to an execution as a means of reducing public backlash. As Director of IRIB, Jebelli is responsible for IRIB’s actions and news content.


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Whereas several high-profile state broadcasting personnel have resigned recently and disavowed the Iranian regime’s violent response to the 2022 protests, Jebelli continues to act in his position. His appointment as director of Iran’s main official news source was authorised by Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and indicates ideological proximity to the regime.
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


 




137.


REZVANI Ali
رضوانی علی


DOB: 1984
Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Function: Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reporter and news anchor/presenter on political and security affairs


Ali Rezvani is a reporter for Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and news anchor/presenter on IRIB’s nightly 20.30 news programme.
IRIB is a state-controlled Iranian media organisation and tasked with spreading government information. IRIB’s nightly 20.30 news broadcast, which airs on Channel 2, is the country’s leading news programme and considered to be IRIB’s primary platform for implementing the agendas of security forces, including the Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Documented cases show that the 20.30 news airs forced confessions.


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In his capacity as IRIB reporter, Ali Rezvani participates in interrogations leading to forced confessions, thereby directly engaging in and facilitating serious human rights violations. In his capacity as news anchor of the 20.30 news, Rezvani promotes the Iranian security forces’ agenda, which condones serious human rights violations such as torture and arbitrary arrests and detention. Rezvani also peddles propaganda against critics in order to intimidate them and to justify and encourage their ill-treatment, thereby violating their right to free expression.
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


 




138.


ZABIHPOUR Ameneh Sadat
ذبیح پور آمنه سادات


DOB: 7.8.1984
POB: Iran
Nationality: Iranian
Gender: female
Function: Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reporter and head of the foreign Persian-language media group at IRIB
Passport no: 09324611


Ameneh Sadat Zabihpour is the head of the foreign Persian-language media group at IRIB, which is notorious for being a regime mouthpiece.
IRIB severely restricts and denies the free flow of information to the Iranian people. Furthermore, IRIB is actively involved in organising and broadcasting forced “confessions” of regime critics, obtained through intimidation and severe violence. These “confessions” are often aired following public protests, or prior to an execution as a means of reducing public backlash.
Whereas several high-profile state broadcasting personnel have resigned recently and disavowed the Iranian regime’s violent response to the 2022 protests, Zabihpour continues to act in her position. She has interrogated critics of the regime and produced forced confession videos.
She is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


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139.


KHATAMI Seyyed Ahmad
خاتمی سید احمد


DOB: 8.5.1960
POB: Semnan, Iran
Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Function: Friday-prayer imam, member of the Assembly of Experts for the Leadership


Seyyed Ahmad Khatami is a hard-line cleric and an influential Friday-prayer imam in Tehran. Khatami is also a member of the Assembly of Experts for the Leadership, an Iranian entity that is itself implicated in human rights violations for its neglect in upholding constitutional provisions.
As a cleric close to the state authorities and with a large audience, he leverages his position to verbally attack and incite violence against protesters. He not only defends the repressive actions of the security forces of Iran but has also on several occasions urged for even harsher treatment of protesters, including the death sentence.
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


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140.


MIRAHMADI Seyyed Majid
مجید سید میراحمدی


POB: Iran
Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Brigadier General
Function: Deputy Minister of Interior of Iran


Brigadier General Seyyed Majid Mirahmadi is Iran’s Deputy Minister of Interior, responsible for overseeing Iran’s security and police forces, actors that are involved in serious human rights violations in Iran.
Iran’s security and police forces are violently clamping down on protests, shooting directly at peaceful protesters and arbitrarily arresting people with total disregard for their human rights.
In his statements, Mirahmadi refers to the protests as riots that have to end, and criminalises and threatens those participating in peaceful protests. He is also personally whitewashing the serious human rights violations committed by forces under his authority, – for example, by claiming that 16-year-old protester Nika Shakrami committed suicide. Reports indicate that it is very likely that she died at the hands of security forces.
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


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141.


MOUSAVI Sayyed Abdolrahim
موسوی سید عبدالرحیم


DOB: 1959/1960
POB: Qom, Iran
Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Major General
Function: Commander-in-chief of the Iranian Army


Major General Sayyed Abdolrahim Mousavi is the Commander-in-Chief of Iran’s Army. In this capacity, he bears responsibility for the Iranian Army’s involvement in the regime’s violent response to the 2022 protests.
On several occasions, Mousavi described the protests in Iran as riots organised and planned by the enemies of Iran, thereby framing the protests as a national security threat. He used threatening language directed at participants in the protest movement. He also praised the Iranian security forces’ violent response to protesters, describing it as an effective way to neutralise Iran’s enemies.
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


12.12.2022




142.


BORMAHANI Mohsen
محسن برمهانی


DOB: 24.5.1979
POB: Neishabur, Iran
Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Passport no: A54062245 (Iran), expires 12.7.2026
National ID no: 1063893488 (Iran)
Function: Deputy Director of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)


Mohsen Bormahani is the Deputy Director of Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), which acts as a regime mouthpiece.
In his position, Bormahani holds responsibility for IRIB content. IRIB severely restricts and denies the free flow of information to the Iranian people. Furthermore, IRIB is actively involved in organising and broadcasting forced “confessions” of regime critics, obtained through intimidation and severe violence. These “confessions” are often aired following public protests, or prior to an execution as a means of reducing public backlash.
Whereas several high-profile state broadcasting personnel have resigned recently and disavowed the Iranian regime’s violent response to the 2022 protests in Iran, Bormahani continues to act in his position as Deputy Director and in recent statements has defended the regime.
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


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143.


JOKAR Morteza
جوکار مرتضا
(a.k.a. JOWKAR Morteza)


Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Colonel
Function: deputy head of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) in Sistan and Baluchestan province


Colonel Morteza Jokar is the deputy head of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) in Sistan and Baluchestan province.
In this function, he is responsible for directing the violent crackdown on civilian protesters in Sistan and Baluchestan province following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022. Forces under his command are responsible for firing live ammunition at protesters during the 30 September 2022 massacre in Zahedan and the 4 November 2022 massacre in Khash, in which dozens of people were killed and wounded. Other violent crackdowns on protests in other provincial cities (Saravan, Chabahar, Iranshahr, Rask, Sarbaz and others) also took place under his control during the autumn of 2022.
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


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144.


SOURI Majid
سوری مجید


Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Colonel
Function: Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Lorestan province


Colonel Majid Souri is the Deputy Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Lorestan province.
He is responsible for the security forces’ violent repression of protests in 2022, especially in the city of Khorramabad, where people gathered to mourn the death of Nika Shakrami, an Iranian teenager who disappeared soon after Mahsa Amini’s death.
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


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145.


KARIMI Mohsen
کریمی محصن


Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Brigadier General
Function: Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Markazi province


Brigadier General Mohsen Karimi is the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Markazi province.
He is responsible for the security forces’ violent repression of protests in 2022, which also led to the death of 19-year-old Mehrshad Shahidi in an IRGC detention centre in Arak.
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


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146.


HEYDARNIA Alireza
حیدرنیا علیرضا


Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Brigadier General
Function: Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Alborz province


Brigadier General Alireza Heydarnia is the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Alborz province.
The IRGC is responsible for the violent repression of protesters, in particular in the city of Karaj, Alborz, in 2022. In that city, security forces cracked down on protesters on the occasion of rallies to honour the victims of the protests on the 40th day after their death. On 17 October 2022, security forces in Karaj abducted from hospital and repeatedly raped Armita Abbasi, a 20-year-old girl.
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


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147.


GARSHASBI Amanollah
گرشاسبی امانالله


Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Brigadier General
Function: Deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Sistan and Baluchestan province


Brigadier General Amanollah Garshasbi is the deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) in Sistan and Baluchestan province. The Salaman provincial corps is under his command.
Sistan and Baluchestan province have seen some of the most violent crackdowns by Iranian security forces, including the IRGC, during the 2022 protests. On 30 September 2022, the province capital Zahedan witnessed “bloody Friday”, when security forces opened fire on a protest forming in Zahedan around Friday prayer. It is estimated that at least 70 protestors were shot and killed. Since then, violence against participants in protests has continued.
Garshasbi is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


12.12.2022




148.


REYHANI Bahman
بهمن ریحانی


Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Brigadier General
Function: Deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the West of Iran, responsible for Kermanshah province.


Brigadier General Bahman Reyhani is the deputy commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in the West of Iran, responsible for Kermanshah province. The Hazrat Nabi Akram provincial corps is under his command.
Kermanshah province has seen violent crackdowns by Iranian security forces, including the IRGC, during the 2022 protests. Reyhani is among those responsible for the IRGC violence against protestors in Kermanshah province.
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


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149.


SHAHSAVARI Habib
شهسواری حبیب


DOB: 1963/1964
Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Brigadier General
Function: Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Shohada provincial corps in West Azerbaijan province


Brigadier General Habib Shahsavari is the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Shohada ground troops corps for the province of West Azerbaijan.
IRGC troops under his command conducted operations against protesters in the Kurdish regions of Iran. In particular, from 15 November 2022, such operations were conducted against protesters in the West Azerbaijan towns of Piranshahr, Mahabad and Bukan. IRGC troops have used disproportionate force in these operations. According to NGO estimates, IRGC operations in the towns of Mahabad and Bukan killed four and 12 people respectively.
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


12.12.2022




150.


ABDOLLAHPOUR Mohammad
عبدللاهپور محمد


Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Brigadier General
Function: Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds provincial corps in Gilan province


Brigadier General Mohammad Abdollahpour is the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds provincial corps in Gilan province.
Gilan province has seen violent crackdowns by Iranian security forces, including by IRGC forces under Abdollahpour’s command, during the 2022 protests.
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


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151.


MOSLEMI Siavash
مسلمی سیاوش


Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Brigadier General
Function: Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Karbala provincial corps in Mazandaran province


Brigadier General Siavash Moslemi has been the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Karbala provincial corps in Mazandaran province since June 2020.
In 2022, IRGC troops under his command conducted operations against protesters and in those operations used disproportionate force. As commander of the troops engaged, Moslemi is among those responsible for violence against protesters.
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


12.12.2022




152.


ZULQADR Ahmad
ذوالقدر احمد


Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Brigadier General
Function: Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Seyyed al-Shohada provincial corps in Tehran province


Brigadier General Ahmad Zulqadr has been the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Seyyed al-Shohada provincial corps in Tehran province since November 2020. He is also the deputy commander of the IRGC corps in Tehran city.
According to media reports, Zulqadr was chosen for the post especially because of his expertise in suppressing protests. In 2022, repression against protesters in Tehran was particularly violent.
As commander of IRGC troops engaged in said violence against protesters, he is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


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153.


KASHKOULI Morteza
کشکولی مرتضی


Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Brigadier General
Function: Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Hazrat Abulfazl provincial corps in Lorestan province


Brigadier General Morteza Kashkouli is the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Hazrat Abulfazl provincial corps in Lorestan province.
In 2022, IRGC troops under his command conducted operations against protesters in the Kurdish regions of Iran. In particular, operations were conducted in the town of Khorramabad in Lorestan. IRGC troops used disproportionate force in these operations, using live ammunition against protesters.
As commander of those IRGC forces, Kashkouli is among those responsible for said violence. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


12.12.2022




154.


BAYAT Isa
بیات عیسی


Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Colonel
Function: Commander of the 364th Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) brigade (Shahid Nasirzadeh) in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan province


Colonel Isa Bayat has been the commander of the 364th Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) brigade (Shahid Nasirzadeh) in Mahabad, West Azerbaijan province, since June 2022.
In 2022, IRGC troops under his command conducted military operations against protesters in the Kurdish regions of Iran. In particular, from 15 November 2022, such operations were conducted against protesters in Mahabad, using disproportionate force and leading to the killing of four people.
As commander of an IRGC unit conducting said operations, Bayat is responsible for violence against protesters. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


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155.


ASANLOO Mohammad Taghi
آصانلو محمد تقی


POB: Zanjan province, Iran
Nationality: Iranian
Gender: male
Rank: Brigadier General
Function: Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Hamzeh Seyed Al-Shohada regional headquarters in Northwest Iran


Brigadier General Mohammad Taghi Asanloo is the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) Hamzeh Seyed Al-Shohada regional headquarters in Northwest Iran, responsible for the provinces of Kordestan and West Azerbaijan.
Hamzeh Seyed Al-Shohada headquarters has the specific mission of suppressing unrest in the Kurdish regions in Northwest Iran. In 2022, under Asanloo’s command, IRGC troops in this area conducted military operations against protesters in the Kurdish region of Iran. In particular, from 15 November 2022, IRGC troops under Asanloo’s command conducted such operations against protesters in the towns of Piranshahr, Mahabad and Bukan.
IRGC troops have used disproportionate force in these operations. According to NGO estimates, IRGC operations against protesters in the Kurdish regions have led to the killing of 42 people since 15 November 2022.
As commander of IRGC troops in the region, Asanloo is responsible for violence against protesters conducted by his troops. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


12.12.2022’





Entities










 


Name


Identifying information


Reasons


Date of listing




‘12.


Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB)
سازمان صدا و سيمای جمهوری اسلامی ايران


Address: Jamejam Street, Valiasr Avenue, 19395 - 3333 Tehran, Iran
Type of entity: state-owned broadcasting company
Other associated entities: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)


Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) is a state-owned broadcasting company notorious for being a regime mouthpiece.
IRIB is responsible for producing and broadcasting the forced confessions of detainees, including journalists, political activists, and persons belonging to Kurdish and Arab minorities, thereby violating internationally recognised rights to a fair trial and due process.
IRIB is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.


12.12.2022’