BERLIN: The European Union will seek to adopt new sanctions against Iran next week over the Islamic republic’s deadly crackdown on protests, Germany’s foreign minister said Wednesday.
“We are working flat out on the next package of sanctions,” Annalena Baerbock said on Twitter. “We want to adopt it next week.”
“We won’t let up,” she added. “We stand with the men and women of Iran, not only today, but as long as it is necessary.”
EU foreign ministers are due to meet in Brussels on Monday.
The bloc had already imposed sanctions in mid-October against Iran’s “morality police” and 11 officials including the telecommunications minister.
Iran has been rocked by demonstrations over the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian of Kurdish origin, following her arrest in Tehran for allegedly flouting the country’s strict hijab dress rules for women.
The crackdown on nationwide protests since her death has killed at least 304 people, including 41 children and 24 women, says the Oslo-based group Iran Human Rights (IHR).
EU seeking to adopt new Iran sanctions next week: Germany
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EU seeking to adopt new Iran sanctions next week: Germany
- “We stand with the men and women of Iran, not only today, but as long as it is necessary”: German FM
- The bloc had already imposed sanctions in mid-October against Iran’s “morality police” and 11 officials
Syrian government foils Daesh plot to attack churches and New Year celebrations
- Bomber kills soldier in Aleppo, detonates explosives injuring 2 others
ALEPPO, DAMASCUS: The Syrian Interior Ministry announced on Thursday that it had thwarted a Daesh plot to carry out suicide attacks targeting New Year celebrations and churches, particularly in Aleppo.
The ministry said in a statement that, as part of ongoing counterterrorism efforts and careful monitoring of Daesh cells in cooperation with partner agencies, it had received intelligence indicating plans for suicide attacks targeting New Year celebrations in several provinces, particularly Aleppo, with a focus on churches and civilian gathering areas.
The ministry added that it took preemptive measures, including reinforcing security around churches, deploying mobile and fixed patrols, and setting up checkpoints across the city.
During operations at a checkpoint in Aleppo’s Bab Al-Faraj district, security forces intercepted a suspected Daesh member who opened fire. One internal security soldier was killed, and the attacker detonated explosives, injuring two others.
Daesh recently increased its attacks in Syria, and was blamed for an attack last month in Palmyra that killed three Americans.
On Dec. 13, two US soldiers and an American civilian were killed in an attack Washington blamed on a lone Daesh gunman in Palmyra.
In retaliation, American forces struck scores of Daesh targets in Syria.
Syrian authorities have also carried out several operations against Daesh since then, saying on Dec. 25 they had killed a senior leader of the group.
