The European Union has brought sanctions against three members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) for assisting in Syria’s crackdown on demonstrations.
Reuters reports that the EU has released the details of the sanctions it proposes to impose on Syria.
IRGC Commander Mohammad Ali Jafari, deputy of IRGC intelligence Hossein Taeb and the Commander of Qods Forces of the IRGC, Ghassem Soleymani have been put on the EU blacklist. They have been accused of “providing military equipment and assisting in the crackdown on popular protests by the Syrian government.”
In addition, the EU is boycotting a number of Syrian construction and investment companies for financially assisting the suppression of Syrian protests.
The West and Syrian refugees in Turkey have accused Iran of participating in the clampdown on Syrian protests, but Iran has repeatedly denied any such involvement.
Similar denials come from Syria’s foreign minister, who accuses the EU of interfering in his country’s internal affairs.
The EU has already placed travel restrictions on 23 Syrian officials including President Beshar Assad.
Germany, France, Britain and Portugal have initiated a move in the UN to declare the oppression of Syria’s people as a crime against humanity. Russia says it rejects the move and will use its veto to block it.
Human rights groups report that 1,300 people have been killed in Syria since protests began in March. Ten thousand people have been arrested and thousands have fled to Turkey and Lebanon.
