COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION (CFSP) 2023/849

24.4.2023 | EN | Official Journal of the European Union | LI 109/40 ---|---|---|--- * * * COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION (CFSP) 2023/849 of 24 April 2023 implementing Decision 2011/235/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 31(2) thereof, Having regard to Council Decision 2011/235/CFSP of 12 April 2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran (1), and in particular Article 3(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 Decision 2011/235/CFSP. ---|--- (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 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, eight persons and one entity should be included in the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures set out in the Annex to Decision 2011/235/CFSP. ---|--- (4) | Decision 2011/235/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly, ---|--- HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The Annex to Decision 2011/235/CFSP is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision. Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Done at Luxembourg, 24 April 2023. For the Council The President J. BORRELL FONTELLES * * * (1) OJ L 100, 14.4.2011, p. 51. * * * ANNEX The following eight persons and one entity are added to the list of persons and entities set out in the Annex to Decision 2011/235/CFSP: Persons | Name | Identifying information | Reasons | Date of listing ---|---|---|---|--- ‘214. | NOBAVEH VATAN Bijan بیژن نوباوه وطن | DOB: 1959/1960 POB: Tehran, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Function: Member of the Iranian Parliament; First Deputy Chairman of the Culture Commission of the Iranian Parliament | Bijan Nobaveh Vatan is an Iranian lawmaker and hardliner as well as the First Deputy Chairman of the Culture Commission of the Iranian Parliament. He is one of the 227 members of parliament who signed a statement on 6 November 2022 praising security forces for killing protestors and urging the judiciary to accelerate trials and sentence protestors to death by declaring them as “Muharebeh”, or “enmity against God”. Moreover, he is a driving force behind legislation enforcing restrictive clothing rules on women by enacting penalties for institutions, businesses and individuals that interact with non-compliant women, thus creating a boycott against them. As a Member of the Iranian Parliament, Nobaveh Vatan supported the killing, detention and torture of people during the 2022/2023 nationwide protests in Iran. He further supports legislation that substantially revokes the social and economic rights of women in Iran. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 24.4.2023 215. | YAZDIKHAH Ali علی یزدی خواه | Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Function: Member of the Iranian Parliament; Member of the Culture Commission of the Iranian Parliament | Ali Yazdikhah is an Iranian lawmaker and hardliner as well as a member of the Culture Commission of the Iranian Parliament. He is one of the 227 members of parliament who signed a statement on 6 November 2022 praising security forces for killing protestors and urging the judiciary to accelerate trials and sentence protestors to death by declaring them as “Muharebeh”, or “enmity against God”. Moreover, he is a driving force behind legislation enforcing restrictive clothing rules on women by enacting penalties for institutions, businesses and individuals that interact with non-compliant women, thus creating a boycott against them. As a Member of the Iranian Parliament, Yazdikhah supported the killing, detention and torture of people during the 2022/2023 nationwide protests in Iran. He further supports legislation that substantially revokes the social and economic rights of women in Iran. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 24.4.2023 216. | ALIBABAEI Mehdi محدی علی بابایی (a.k.a. ALI BABAEI Mehdi, BABAEI Ali Mehdi) | Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Rank: Major Function: provincial deputy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Qom | Major Mehdi Alibabaei is the provincial deputy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Qom. He directs IRGC and Basij forces in the city of Qom. Following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, some of the most intense protests have been seen in the city of Qom. Security forces, including the IRGC and the Basij militia were deployed to violently crack down on these protests. Since March 2023, the IRGC and Basij militia have also been instructed to enforce the mandatory hijab law by new methods of oppression. Alibabaei revealed a new scheme to deploy members of the Basij militia in each Qom neighbourhood to enforce the hijab law. The new scheme includes installing programs such as “Be a famous leader in our neighbourhood”, ordering IRGC/Basij forces to conduct neighbourhood patrols, the use of intelligence, intimidation, and enforcing accountability of regular citizens (for example by appealing to the responsibility of building and residence managers for “badly veiled” residents). This scheme represents a new level of denunciation and information gathering by the general population to oppress women. Under the command of Alibabaei, the local IRGC and Basij forces in Qom are ordered to enforce certain selected laws, by means and methods that intimidate citizens and violate their fundamental rights. As provincial deputy of the IRGC in Qom, Major Mehdi Alibabaei is responsible for the acts of oppression committed by the local IRGC and Basij forces and their violations of the rights of freedom of expression and privacy. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 24.4.2023 217. | NOUROUZI Ali Asghar (a.k.a. NOROUZI Ali Asghar) | DOB: 11.11.1962 POB: Dashtestan, Bushehr province, Iran Address: Unit 29, 5th Floor, Talaieh Block- B1, Elahiyeh Complex 1, Number 0, Alley 2-Shahid Sajjad Rushanai, Rabbaninejad Street, Zein Aldin Municipality, Qom 3739144673, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Passport no: Y53914915 (Iran) expires 11.5.2026 Iranian national ID no: 4591967573 Function: chairman of the board of directors of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation Associated individuals: Seyyed Aminollah; Emami Tabatabai; Yahya Alaoddini; Jamal Babamoradi; Ahmad Karimi Associated entities: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation/Bonyad Taavon Sepah IRGC | Ali Asghar Nourouzi is the chairman of the board of directors of the EU-listed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation. The IRGC has been at the forefront of the repression of the 2022/2023 protests in Iran which has seen more than 520 people killed, over 70 of whom were minors, and more than 22 000 arrests/imprisonments effected. The IRGC Cooperative Foundation is the body responsible for managing the IRGC’s investments and in that framework it is responsible for funnelling money into the regime’s brutal repression. As chairman of the board of directors of the IRGC Cooperative Foundation, Ali Asghar Nourouzi is therefore responsible for willingly and knowingly providing the instruments with which the brutal and ongoing repression has been carried out. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 24.4.2023 218. | TABATABAI Seyyed Amin Ala Emami (a.k.a. TABATBAYI Aminallah Imami) | DOB: 26.8.1963 POB: Meybod, Iran Address: Tehran, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Iranian national ID no: 4489260229 Function: vice-chairman of the board of directors of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation; managing director of the IRGC Cooperative Foundation Associated individuals: Ali Asghar Nourouzi; Yahya Alaoddini; Jamal Babamoradi; Ahmad Karimi Associated entities: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation/Bonyad Taavon Sepah IRGC | Seyyed Amin Ala Emami Tabatabai is the vice-chairman of the board of directors as well as the managing director of the EU-listed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation. The IRGC has been at the forefront of the repression of the 2022/2023 protests in Iran which has seen more than 520 people killed, over 70 of whom were minors, and more than 22 000 arrests/imprisonments effected. The IRGC Cooperative Foundation is the body responsible for managing the IRGC’s investments and in that framework it is responsible for funnelling money into the regime’s brutal repression. As vice-chairman of the board of directors and managing director of the IRGC Cooperative Foundation, Seyyed Amin Ala Emami Tabatabai is therefore responsible for willingly and knowingly providing the instruments with which the brutal and ongoing repression has been carried out. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 24.4.2023 219. | ALAODDINI Yahya (a.k.a. ALA’ODDINI Yahya; ALAEDDINI Yahya) | DOB: 21.5.1965 POB: Tehran, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Passport no: K47201906 (Iran) expires 19.10.2023 Iranian national ID no: 0036732958 Function: member of the board of directors of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation Associated individuals: Ali Asghar Nourouzi; Jamal Babamoradi; Ahmad Karimi;; Seyyed Amin Ala Emami Tabatabai Associated entities: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation/Bonyad Taavon Sepah IRGC | Yahya Alaoddini is a member of the board of directors of the EU-listed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation. The IRGC has been at the forefront of the repression of the 2022/2023 protests in Iran which has seen more than 520 people killed, over 70 of whom were minors, and more than 22 000 arrests/imprisonments effected. The IRGC Cooperative Foundation is the body responsible for managing the IRGC’s investments and in that framework it is responsible for funnelling money into the regime’s brutal repression. As member of the board of directors of the IRGC Cooperative Foundation, Yahya Alaoddini is therefore responsible for willingly and knowingly providing the instruments with which the brutal and ongoing repression has been carried out. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 24.4.2023 220. | BABAMORADI Jamal Ali | DOB: 24.5.1960 POB: Tehran, Iran Address: Tehran, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Iranian national ID no: 0036824240 Function: member of the board of directors of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation Associated individuals: Ali Asghar Nourouzi; Ahmad Karimi; Yahya Alaoddini; Seyyed Amin Ala Emami Tabatabai Associated entities: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation/Bonyad Taavon Sepah IRGC | Jamal Ali Babamoradi is a member of the board of directors of the EU-listed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation. The IRGC has been at the forefront of the repression of the 2022/2023 protests in Iran which has seen more than 520 people killed, over 70 of whom were minors, and more than 22 000 arrests/imprisonments effected. The IRGC Cooperative Foundation is the body responsible for managing the IRGC’s investments and in that framework it is responsible for funnelling money into the regime’s brutal repression. As member of the board of directors of the IRGC Cooperative Foundation, Jamal Ali Babamoradi is therefore responsible for willingly and knowingly providing the instruments with which the brutal and ongoing repression has been carried out. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 24.4.2023 221. | KARIMI Ahmad Hasan | DOB: 11.12.1962 POB: Qom, Iran Address: Tehran, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: male Iranian national ID no: 0382947983 Function: member of the board of directors of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation Associated individuals: Ali Asghar Nourouzi; Yahya Alaoddini; Seyyed Amin Ala Emami Tabatabai; Jamal Ali Babamoradi Associated entities: Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation/Bonyad Taavon Sepah IRGC | Ahmad Hasan Karimi is a member of the board of directors of the EU-listed Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Cooperative Foundation. The IRGC has been at the forefront of the repression of the 2022/2023 protests in Iran which has seen more than 520 people killed, over 70 of whom were minors, and more than 22 000 arrests/imprisonments effected. The IRGC Cooperative Foundation is the body responsible for managing the IRGC’s investments and in that framework it is responsible for funnelling money into the regime’s brutal repression. As member of the board of directors of the IRGC Cooperative Foundation, Ahmad Hasan Karimi is therefore responsible for willingly and knowingly providing the instruments with which the brutal and ongoing repression has been carried out. He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 24.4.2023’ Entities | Name | Identifying information | Reasons | Date of listing ---|---|---|---|--- ‘35. | Ariantel | Address: Ariantel Head Office, No 15, 15th alley, South Gandhi Street, Tehran, Iran Website: http://www.ariantel.ir Type of entity: private company | Ariantel is an Iranian mobile service provider which has been at the forefront of rolling-out the comprehensive telecommunications surveillance architecture mapped out by the Iranian Government to quash dissent and critical voices in Iran. Ariantel has actively sought, and makes use of, cyberware products used to monitor, geolocate and intercept calls and other mobile communications activities of its users at the request of the Iranian Government. This information has subsequently been used to quash and disrupt protests and to identify, target and arrest peaceful protesters and activists. Therefore, Ariantel is responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 24.4.2023’ * * *