EU sanctions Iranian judges, leading cyber group figure

Jul 24, 2026

EU European Commission Vice-President Kaja Kallas delivers a joint statement with Philippines Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro (not pictured) on the Enhanced Partnership between the Philippines and the European Union, on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center on July 24, 2026 in Pasay, Metro Manila, Philippines. Ezra Acayan/Pool via REUTERS — FILE PHOTO: European Union flags flutter outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium April 29, 2026. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo — Yves Herman

BRUSSELS, July 24 (Reuters) - The European Union sanctioned five Iranian judges over alleged human rights violations, as well as a leading figure in a cyber group accused of helping the regime suppress information, the EU Council said on Friday.

The Council said it had sanctioned Nima Salehi, the Iranian founder of the Ashiyane cyber group, which it said cooperates closely with the EU-listed Cyber Police (FATA) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The statement did not specify the names of the sanctioned judges.

"As Tehran intensifies its domestic crackdown, the EU will continue to hold those responsible to account," EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said in a statement on social media platform X.

The European Union has so far sanctioned 269 individuals and 53 related entities.

(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout; Editing by Makini Brice and Toby Chopra)

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