COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION (CFSP) 2026/265

| Official Journal of the European Union | EN L series ---|---|--- * * * | 2026/265 | 29.1.2026 ---|---|--- COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION (CFSP) 2026/265 of 29 January 2026 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) | The Council conclusions of 12 December 2022 stressed that the Union strongly rejected Iran’s practice of arbitrary detention of foreign citizens, including dual nationals, and called upon Iran to end the distressing practice of detaining innocent foreign civilians with a view to making political gains. The Union reminded Iran of its international obligations under the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations and urged the Iranian authorities to abide by those obligations. ---|--- (3) | On 9 January 2026, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a statement on behalf of the Union noting with great concern the reports on casualties and condemning the use of violence, arbitrary detention and intimidation tactics by security forces against demonstrators. The statement called for all individuals unjustly detained for exercising their fundamental rights to be released immediately and urged Iranian authorities to adhere to Iran’s international obligations and fully uphold the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. It also called for ensuring the right of access to information, including by restoring access to the internet for all. ---|--- (4) | In that context, and in line with the Union’s commitment to address all issues of concern with Iran, including the human rights situation, 15 persons and six entities should be included in the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures set out in the Annex to Decision 2011/235/CFSP. ---|--- (5) | 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 Brussels, 29 January 2026. For the Council The President K. KALLAS * * * (1) OJ L 100, 14.4.2011, p. 51, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2011/235/oj. * * * ANNEX The following persons and entities 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 ---|---|---|---|--- ‘245. | Eskandar MOMENI اسکندر مؤمنی | Function: Minister of the Interior; Head of the National Security Council; Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) DOB: 1962 POB: Qaem Shahr, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Eskandar Momeni is Iran’s Minister of the Interior and Head of the National Security Council. In this role, he oversees Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF), which are responsible for blatant and severe human rights violations in the country. Momeni also serves as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and in this capacity oversees different security forces of the IRGC, including the Basij Resistance Force. In his dual role, Momeni is responsible for suppressing street protests, which have seen hundreds of casualties at the hands of different security forces under his control. Momeni was also put in charge of an investigation into the death in August 2024 of Mohammad Mirmousavi, who was tortured to death by security forces, and Momeni exonerated the security forces in that case by blaming the victim. Eskandar Momeni is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 246. | Mohammad MOVAHEDI-AZAD محمد موحدی آزاد | Function: Prosecutor General DOB: 6.9.1960 POB: Qom, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Mohammad Movahedi-Azad is Prosecutor General and has held a series of important offices in Iran’s judicial system, especially in Tehran. During his professional career he has issued and upheld unfair sentences, in particular against protesters and minorities, sought to suppress dissent and freedom of expression, and overseen torture. During the nationwide protests in Iran that began in December 2025, in his capacity as Prosecutor General he threatened protesters with the death penalty for “enmity against God” and called for the seizure of their assets. Mohammad Movahedi-Azad is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 247. | Seyed Majid Feiz JAFARI سید مجید فیض جعفری | Function: Chief of the Public Security Police Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Seyed Majid Feiz Jafari is Chief of the Public Security Police. In this position he has played an active role in the violent suppression of peaceful protests. The Public Security Police systematically uses violence and methods of intimidation against protesters and activists, thereby violating their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. Seyed Majid Feiz Jafari is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 248. | Ahmad Ali FAIZULLAHI احمدعلی فیض اللهی | Function: Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Saberin Takavar Special Forces Brigade DOB: 1966 or 1967 Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Ahmad Ali Faizullahi is the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Saberin Takavar Special Forces Brigade, an elite special operations force within the Ground Forces of the IRGC. The Saberin Takavar Special Forces Brigade has been directly involved in the violent suppression of protests in Iran and in committing serious human rights violations, including in relation to the nationwide protests in Iran that began in December 2025. Ahmad Ali Faizullahi is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 249. | Iman AFSHARI | Function: Presiding judge of Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Iman Afshari is the presiding judge of Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. In this capacity, he has played a pivotal role in upholding the oppressive policies of the Iranian regime, by issuing death sentences and lengthy prison terms against political prisoners, human rights activists, and ethnic and religious minorities. Iman Afshari is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 250. | Ali Abdollahi ALIABADI | Function: Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters DOB: 1959 POB: Aliabad, Rudbar County, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi is the Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which oversees coordination between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army. As Commander he oversees, coordinates and plans all Iranian military operations that involve multiple branches of the Iranian Armed Forces, such as the Police, IRGC and Army. Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters therefore also plays a significant role in the roll-out of widespread crackdowns and repression with the use of excessive violence. Under Aliabadi’s command of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the Iranian Armed Forces have arrested, beaten, tortured and killed Iranians. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 251. | Ruhollah Momen NASAB | Function: Head of the Tehran branch of the government body “the Headquarters for Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice” DOB: 21.1.1981 Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Ruhollah Momen Nasab is head of the Tehran branch of a government body called “the Headquarters for Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice”, which ultimately answers to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Under Nasab’s initiative, this body established a “Chastity and Hijab” Unit which aims to monitor women’s attire in Iran. In addition, Ruhollah Momen Nasab has participated in online disinformation campaigns, conducted by creating fake accounts using the names of well-known individuals. Furthermore, Ruhollah Momen Nasab is one of the main designers of the Protection of Cyberspace plan, which aims to restrict citizens’ access to the free internet in Iran so that the use of social networks such as Instagram and WhatsApp, and of Google services and other email services, will become impossible for citizens. Ruhollah Momen Nasab is hence violating the rights to freedom of information and expression of the Iranian people, and is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 252. | Haidar OLFATI a.k.a. Heydar OLFATI | Function: Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Ilam Province Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Haidar Olfati is Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Ilam Province. Under his command, IRGC forces in Ilam Province have been involved in the violent repression of demonstrations, including during the nationwide protests in Iran that began in December 2025 where IRGC forces opened fire on peaceful protesters, resulting in deaths and injuries. As Commander of the IRGC in Ilam Province, Haidar Olfati is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran, including violations of the right to life and the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. | 29.1.2026 253. | Morteza SHEYKHI مرتضی شیخی a.k.a. Morteza SHEIKHI | Function: Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Azna County Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Morteza Sheykhi has been Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Azna County, Lorestan Province, since 2024. Under his command, IRGC forces in Azna County have been involved in the violent repression of demonstrations, including during the nationwide protests in Iran that began in December 2025, where IRGC forces opened fire on protesters, resulting in deaths and injuries. As Commander of the IRGC in Azna County, Morteza Sheykhi is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 254. | Seyed Ali-Asghar POURBEHESHT | Function: Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij Resistance Force of Kohgiluyeh County Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Seyed Ali-Asghar Pourbehesht is Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and of the Basij Resistance Force in Kohgiluyeh County. The Basij Resistance Force is a volunteer paramilitary organisation operating under the IRGC with branches throughout Iran. The Basij Resistance Force was one of the forces ordered by the Iranian Government to violently quell the September 2022 protests. The IRGC and Basij forces have also been involved in the violent repression of the nationwide protests in Iran that began in December 2025 and which has resulted in numerous casualties and arbitrary detention, including in Kohgiluyeh County. Therefore, in his capacity as Commander of the IRGC and of the Basij Resistance Force, Seyed Ali-Asghar Pourbehesht is responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran, including the right to life and the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. | 29.1.2026 255. | Alireza NOSHAD a.k.a. Alireza NOWSHAD | Function: Police Commander of Marvdasht County and a member of the Marvdasht County Security Council Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Alireza Noshad is the Police Commander of Marvdasht County and a member of the Marvdasht County Security Council. In this capacity, Alireza Noshad directed the violent repression of the nationwide protests in Iran that began in December 2025, resulting in deaths and injuries. Alireza Noshad is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 256. | Rasoul JALILI رسول جلیلی | Function: Member of the Supreme Council of Cyberspace; academic researcher at and President of Sharif University of Technology DOB: 1961 POB: Eqlid, Fars, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Rasoul Jalili is a member of Iran’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace (SCC), an entity listed by the Union. In this role, he has been involved in the development of censorship and surveillance tools and is involved in the Sharif Opening Plan, a tiered system for internet access in Iran that discriminates between individuals based on their professional and social status. The SCC is also responsible for coordinating the access restrictions to the internet in order to prevent or oppress protests and to limit access to open and free information. Through his role in the SCC, Rasoul Jalili is violating the rights to freedom of information and expression of the Iranian people. Rasoul Jalili is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran and is associated with the Supreme Council of Cyberspace, an entity responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 257. | Masoud MOSADEGH مسعود مصدق a.k.a. Masoud MOSSADEGH a.k.a. Masoud MOSADDEQ | Function: Brigadier General; Commander of Special Units of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF Special Units) Nationality: Iran Gender: male | Masoud Mosadegh is the Commander of the Special Units of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF Special Units). The LEF Special Units have on many occasions been deployed to violently supress peaceful protests, killing and injuring civilians. This was also the case in the nationwide protests in Iran that began in December 2025. Masoud Mosadegh is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 258. | Mohsen EBRAHIMI محسن ابراهیمی | Function: Commander of the Counter-Terrorism Special Force (NOPO) Nationality: Iranian Gender: male | Mohsen Ebrahimi is the Commander of Iran’s Counter-Terrorism Special Force (NOPO), an entity listed by the Union. NOPO is a subdivision of the Special Units of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF). NOPO is a highly trained specialised unit often deployed to dissolve protests. NOPO has used excessive violence and lethal force against unarmed protestors, including women and children. Its human rights violations have been documented throughout various protests, including the nationwide protests in Iran that began in December 2025. Mohsen Ebrahimi is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 259. | Mohsen FATHIZADEH محسن فتحی زاده a.k.a. Mohsen FATHI ZADEH | Function: Head of the Protection and Intelligence Organization of the Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) Military Rank: Brigadier General of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Nationality: Iranian Gender: male National ID No: 4839651760 | Mohsen Fathizadeh is the Head of the Protection and Intelligence Organization of the Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) in Iran. The mission of the Protection and Intelligence Organization is to provide intelligence support to the police command and thereby ensure internal security in Iran. Agents under Mohsen Fathizadeh’s command have arbitrarily arrested activists, violently suppressed peaceful protesters and enforced the strict hijab regulations. Furthermore, the LEF has on many occasions been deployed to violently supress peaceful protests, killing and injuring civilians. Mohsen Fathizadeh is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026’ Entities | Name | Identifying information | Reasons | Date of listing ---|---|---|---|--- ‘46. | Iranian Audio-Visual Media Regulatory Authority (SATRA) سازمان تنظیم مقررات رسانه های صوت و تصویر فراگیر در فضای مجازی - ساترا | Address: No. 234, Motahari St., Tehran, Iran PO Box:1588874611 Place of registration: Iran Date of registration: 2016 | The Audio-Visual Media Regulatory Authority (SATRA) is a government body that is responsible for monitoring online and video content published in Iran, including entertainment products shown on privately owned streaming platforms. SATRA operates under the supervision of the state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and is therefore associated with IRIB, an entity listed by the Union. As part of its activities, SATRA censors political and cultural content, such as dissenting political views expressed in television shows and in films, and depictions of alcohol consumption, smoking and the lack of hijab. By censoring media content, SATRA violates the rights to freedom of expression and information of the Iranian people and the freedom and pluralism of the media. SATRA is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 47. | Seraj Cyberspace Organization | Place of registration: Fars, Iran Website: https://seraj.ir/ Date of registration: 2013 | Seraj Cyberspace Organization was established by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to support the IRGC’s apparatus by recruiting, training and mobilising pro-regime internet users. Seraj Cyberspace Organization’s operations include trolling campaigns on social media, spreading disinformation and misinformation online, trending pro-regime hashtags and engineering divisions among the Iranian opposition. Accounts related to Seraj Cyberspace Organization are also used to spread abusive content against the Islamic Republic’s opponents and to attack political opponents online. Seraj Cyberspace Organization is hence violating the rights to freedom of information and expression of the Iranian people. Seraj Cyberspace Organization is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 48. | Working Group for Determining Instances of Criminal Content کارگروه تعیین مصادیق محتوای مجرمانه a.k.a. WGDICC a.k.a. Commission to Determine the Instances of Criminal Content (CDICC) a.k.a. The Filtering Committee a.k.a. Internet Blocking Censory Committee | Address: Sure-Esrafil St, Tehran, Iran Place of registration: Sure-Esrafil St, Tehran, Iran Website: http://internet.ir | The Working Group for Determining Instances of Criminal Content (WGDICC) is a judicial body that operates under the Iranian Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Justice. It is tasked with filtering and censoring the internet in Iran. To do so, it collaborates with several companies and media outlets to develop and deploy surveillance and censorship tools. Those include tools that aim to reduce bandwidth, block international social media platforms and block unauthorised VPNs. Furthermore, the WGDICC is involved with filtering information considered contrary to the values and security of the Iranian regime. In this way, the WGDICC is systemically limiting access to independent information and limiting Iranian citizens’ freedom to express their views, to communicate with each other and to organise themselves in order to give effect to the freedom of assembly, in particular through the use of online platforms such as social media. The WGDICC is thus responsible for severe violations of the rights to freedom of information, expression and assembly of the Iranian people. The WGDICC is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 49. | Yaftar Pazhohan Pishtaz Rayanesh Limited Company a.k.a. Yaftar a.k.a. Yaftar Company | Address: No.37, Unit 13, Qasemi Street, Habibollah Street, Azadi Avenue, Tehran, 1576984418, Iran Address: No. 56, 4th and 5th floors, Ghasemi Alley, Shahid Akbari Boulevard, Azadi St, Tehran, Iran Type of entity: Limited Company Registration number: 436501 National ID No: 10320862133 | Yaftar is a company in Iran that collaborates with the Working Group for Determining Instances of Criminal Content (WGDICC). Yaftar contributes to the widespread disruption of access to the internet by developing surveillance and repression tools. Yaftar is one of the main contractors working on online censorship in Iran and is involved in website and app internet blocking and censoring. Specifically, Yaftar is developing systems to collect data from search engines in order to identify and censor content that is considered “criminal” by the WGDICC. Yaftar has also cooperated with the Iranian Attorney General’s Office in blocking VPNs. Furthermore, Yaftar works on image analysis and facial recognition. Through its activities, Yaftar is significantly limiting access to independent information and Iranian citizens’ freedom of expression. Yaftar is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 50. | Douran Software Technologies گروه دوران a.k.a. Douran Group a.k.a. Douran Information Technologies a.k.a. Douran Software | Address: No. 62, 1st floor, Shahid Farshad ayyazi (9th), Shahid Abdolhamid Sabunchi St., Shahid Beheshti Ave., Tehran, 1533763811, Iran Place of registration: Iran Date of registration: 4.10.2004 Registration No: 231475 National ID No: 10102527140 Website: www.douran.ir | Douran Software Technologies is an Iranian software company involved in internet blocking and censoring activities. It provides traffic analysis tools and censorship, internet filtering and blocking of VPN equipment to Iranian internet providers. Douran Software Technologies is involved in the National Information Network projects and cooperates among others with the Working Group for Determining Instances of Criminal Content (WGDICC) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to limit access to international websites. Douran Software Technologies is therefore violating the rights to freedom of information, assembly and expression of the Iranian people, by blocking vital internet access. Douran Software Technologies is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026 51. | Masaf Institute | Place of registration: Iran Date of registration: June 2011 | The Masaf Institute is an organisation founded in 2011 by Ali Akbar Raefipour. The Masaf Institute plays a key role in silencing political opposition, by engaging in “doxxing” and smear campaigns against anti-regime Iranians. It develops pro-regime cyber armies, orchestrates online attacks and disseminates disinformation, with the aim of identifying political dissenters. It has been involved in coordinated “doxxing” campaigns led by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), leading to the detention of political dissenters. The Masaf Institute serves as a propaganda outlet for the Islamic Republic through the use of multiple tools, such as video clips, documentaries, short films, games, software, music, graphics, cartoons, illustrations and analysis of political events. In doing so, the Masaf Institute is violating the rights to freedom of information, assembly and expression of the Iranian people. The Masaf Institute is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. | 29.1.2026’ * * * ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/265/oj ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition) * * *