Australia imposes new sanctions on Iranian officials and entities
Australian foreign minister Penny Wong announced new sanctions and travel bans against seven Iranian individuals and four entities, accusing Iran of ongoing repression and regional destabilisation.
In a statement, Wong said the Iranian government had carried out mass arrests and violence against peaceful protesters, including women and children, and said those targeted by the sanctions included senior officials and organisations allegedly involved in those actions.
Wong said the measures also targeted what she described as Iran’s “shadow banking system”, which Canberra claims helps fund groups such as Hamas, supports Iran’s ballistic missile programme and enables other activities.
The announcement came after the United Kingdom and the United States imposed fresh sanctions on Iranian individuals and entities on Monday, with Washington saying the measures formed part of its “Economic Fury” campaign aimed at restricting funding for Iran’s weapons and nuclear programmes.