Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/986 of 22 May 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons, entities and bodies in view of the situation in Iran

Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/986of 22 May 2023implementing 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 IranOJ L 100, 14.4.2011, p. 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, as confirmed in the Council conclusions of 12 December 2022, five persons and two 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 1Annex I to Regulation (EU) No 359/2011 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2This 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, 22 May 2023.For the CouncilThe PresidentJ. Borrell FontellesANNEXThe 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
"222.	ADINEHVAND Salmanسلمان آدینه وند	Function: Commander of the Tehran Police Relief Unit of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF)Nationality: IranianDOB: 20 May 1980POB: Tehran, IranGender: male	Salman Adinehvand has been the Commander of the Tehran Police Relief Unit of Iran’s LEF, the primary security organisation in charge of crowd control and protest suppression, since January 2021. Adinehvand’s unit was directly responsible for the violent suppression of protests in Tehran in September and October 2022, during which dozens of protestors were killed by security forces using live ammunition.He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.	22.5.2023
223.	AGHAMIRI Seyyed Mohammad Aminسید محمد امین آقامیری	Function: secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace (SCC)Nationality: IranianDOB: 21 September 1986POB: IranGender: male	Seyyed Mohammad Amin Aghamiri is the secretary of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace of Iran (SCC), the centralised authority for policymaking in the realm of cyberspace. The SCC is responsible for Iran’s blockage of popular online news and communications platforms and has also used digital technology to spy on and harass journalists and regime dissidents.He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.	22.5.2023
224.	NIKVARZ Mohsen	Function: public prosecutor of SirjanNationality: IranianPOB: IranGender: male	As the public prosecutor of Sirjan, Mohsen Nikvarz was responsible for several arbitrary arrests of lawyers and death sentences in Sirjan during the 2019 protests.In the context of the protests that erupted in September 2022, Nikvarz was also involved in the Maryam Arvin case, where he prosecuted her for her activities as a defence lawyer for protesters. Following her arrest, for which Nikvarz carries personal responsibility, she was brutally tortured in prison.Nikvarz is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.	22.5.2023
225.	MORADI Naderنادر مرادی	Function: Deputy Supervisor of Public Spaces of the Public Security PoliceMilitary rank: ColonelNationality: IranianPOB: IranGender: male	In his current function as Deputy Supervisor of Public Spaces of the Public Security Police, Colonel Nader Moradi is responsible for the enforcement of hijab laws. Those laws have been used by the Iranian authorities to crack down on peaceful protesters.Moradi is responsible for the persecution and arrest of women for non-compliance with hijab rules. He is also responsible for the closure of businesses, restaurants and other public spaces in relation to non-enforcement of hijab rules, signing the letters informing them of their closure.During the protests that started in September 2022 and lasted for many months, Moradi was also responsible for the persecution and arrest of shop owners who closed their businesses and were planning on striking in protest of the death of Mahsa Amini.Moradi is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.	22.5.2023
226.	MONTAZER AL-MAHDI Saeed(a.k.a MONTAZER AL-MAHDI Said)	Function: police spokesmanMilitary rank: Brigadier GeneralNationality: IranianDOB: 8 November 1971POB: Tehran, IranGender: male	Saeed Montazer Al-Mahdi is the spokesman of the Iranian police (EU-listed Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) of Iran).In April 2023, he announced the current strict enforcement of hijab laws, which have been used by the Iranian authorities to crack down on peaceful protesters. Acting in his function, he defends and promotes the repressive actions of the police.His intimidating statements on monitoring, the closure of businesses and other public spaces, and the warning texts that are being sent by the authorities have a very significant repressive impact. Furthermore, in his role as police spokesperson, he has repeatedly downplayed the widely reported schoolgirl poisonings, by claiming that the "majority" were "not real", thereby denying the victims protection through the police and undermining their right to safety.He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.	22.5.2023"

Entities

	Name	Identifying information	Reasons	Date of listing
"36.	Student Basij Organisation (SBO)(a.k.a Student and Talabeh Basij)	Type of entity: branch of the Basij Organisation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)Place of registration: IranDate of registration: November 1989Associated individuals: Issa ZarepourOther associated entities: IRGC; IRGC Basij Organisation	The Student Basij Organisation (SBO) is a branch within the Basij Organisation that acts as the IRGC’s violent enforcers on university campuses. The SBO consists of the youngest and most radical members of the Basij, who were particularly active in making university campuses where students staged protests some of the main theatres of repression in autumn 2022. During raids on a number of university campuses, including at Sharif University, Shahid Beheshti University and Amirkabir University security forces, including the SBO, used live ammunition and opened fire on students.This, alongside multiple reports of student abductions and torture linked to these raids, confirms that the SBO is responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.	22.5.2023
37.	IRGC Cooperative Foundation(a.k.a IRGC Cooperation Bonyad; Bonyad Taavon Sepah; Bonyad-e Ta’avon-e; Sepah Cooperative Foundation)	Address: Niayes Highway, Seoul Street, Tehran, IranType of entity: foundationPlace of registration: IranDate of registration: 1989Associated individuals: Ali Asghar Nourouzi;Seyyed Amin Ala; Emami Tabatabai;Ahmad Hasan Karimi;Yahya AlaoddiniOther associated entities: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)	The IRGC has been at the forefront of the crackdown on protests in Iran since September 2022, which according to independent sources has resulted in over 520 deaths, including the deaths of over 70 minors, and more than 22000 arrests/imprisonments.The IRGC Cooperative Foundation is the body responsible for managing the IRGC’s investments and is thus responsible for financing the regime’s brutal repression. It is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran.	22.5.2023"