The European Union has sanctioned five Iranian judges and the founder of a cyber group, adding to a growing list of individuals targeted over systematic human rights violations in the country.
A broader crackdown on Iran’s repressive machinery
On March 16, 2026, the EU sanctioned an additional 16 individuals and 3 entities, a group that included judiciary members and an IT company involved in deploying surveillance tools during protests that erupted in January 2026.
The EU responded by renewing its entire human rights sanctions regime against Iran on March 30, 2026, extending it until April 13, 2027.
The measures include asset freezes, travel bans, and export restrictions on equipment that could be used for internal repression. Prior rounds have already targeted Iran’s Prosecutor General and members of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace.
