Europe Asia News

A spokesperson told Euronews that Kallas and the EU’s diplomatic arm, the European External Action Service (EEAS), are “ready to propose new sanctions” in addition to the wide-ranging measures already in force against Iran.

Kallas’s initiative comes at a time when the death toll in Iran continues to rise following protests that erupted on December 28 after the collapse of the Iranian rial.

According to a report by the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, more than 10,600 people were detained during two weeks of protests. Of the reported deaths, 48 were security personnel and 496 were demonstrators.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Brussels was “monitoring the situation,” reiterating an earlier call by European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, the first EU leader to urge Europe “to understand its duty and the need to act.”

The EU has already imposed a broad range of sanctions against Iran — mainly travel bans and asset freezes — over serious human rights violations, nuclear activities, and military support for Russia’s aggressive war against Ukraine.

The bloc has sanctioned more than 230 Iranians, including the country’s interior minister Ahmad Vahidi, members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), and more than 40 entities.

However, the EU’s approach to the current crisis stands in sharp contrast to the military threats voiced by the United States.

US President Donald Trump previously said he would “respond very strongly” if Iranian leaders continued killing protesters. Although no decision has yet been made, US media report that the American president is being briefed on new options for military intervention in the country.