Iran: Switzerland considering EU's sanctions on Tehran over crackdown on protests

The protests in Iran are continuing for the fifth week over the death of a woman in the custody of the Morality Police. With the European Union set to impose sanctions on Iran over its crackdown on the protests, Switzerland is considering whether to adopt the bloc’s sanctions.

The Swiss Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education, and Research said it noted that the EU extended sanctions to an additional 11 individuals and four organizations related to the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini and the response by Tehran to the demonstrations. In a statement to Reuters, the WBF said the department is currently reviewing further measures.

Some EU foreign ministers Monday called for new sanctions on Iran should Tehran’s involvement with Russia in its war against Ukraine be proven, and the Swiss government said it was also monitoring such a move. It remains to be determined when the WBF gives its decision on the sanctions. The decision may be made by either Swiss Economic Affairs minister Guy Parmelin alone or with the Swiss parliament.

Switzerland, which has maintained neutrality, has already adopted some EU and United Nations sanctions against Iran over its nuclear program and human rights violations.

In the existing penalties, Switzerland placed a ban on the export of weapons, nuclear goods, and surveillance equipment and also froze the financial assets of some Iranians tied to the government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Protests erupted in Iran back in September following the death of Amini in the custody of the Morality Police. Amini died three days after she was detained over her “improper” wearing of her hijab, sparking outrage and calls to end the Islamic Republic. Tehran has also sought to blame the United States, Israel, and other foreign governments for the unrest.

The US, Britain, and France have agreed to raise the alleged Iranian arms sales to Russia during a closed-door UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday, according to diplomats, following Ukraine’s accusation toward Russia of using Iranian-made drones against civilian targets.

Ukraine has also invited UN experts to inspect what it claims to be Iranian drones that Russia used to attack Ukraine targets in a violation of the UN Security Council resolution 2231, which endorses the 2015 nuclear deal.