EU sanctions Iran over protest crackdown and Russia drone sales

Ministers of the European Union of Foreign Affairs have imposed new sanctions on Iranian religious leaders, senior officials and top state media employees over new crackdowns on antigovernment protests and supplying drones to Russia for use in Ukraine. Twenty individuals and one entity were sanctioned on Monday over human rights abuses, while four more people and as many entities were added over the issue of drones. Sanctions include freezing of assets and travel bans to the EU. The state-owned Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting had its assets frozen; the EU said the media outlet was a "mouthpiece" for "the violent response to the recent demonstrations in Iran". Iranians have protested against the government's restrictions on their daily lives since late September, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, who was arrested for allegedly violating the Islamic Republic's strict dress code.