AIJAC praises Australia’s Iran sanctions
AIJAC has welcomed the Australian Government’s recent announcement of targeted sanctions against seven Iranian officials and entities involved in domestic human rights abuses.
In a statement The Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council said: “These include Iran’s Cyber Police, state media outlet Press TV and technology company Arvan Cloud. Two “interrogator-journalists” working for the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Ali Rezvani and Ameneh Sadat Zabihpour, were also listed, as were Iranian police spokesperson Saeed Montazer Al-Mahdi and Cyber Police Chief Vahid Mohammad Naser Majid.
While this modest step against domestic human rights abusers in Iran is very welcome, AIJAC urges the Government to coordinate more with our allies and partners regarding both the timing of sanctions announcements and the targets. This should include a heavier focus on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran’s material support for Russia’s war against Ukraine, and also support for terrorism, hostage-taking, piracy and the proliferation of missiles and other weapons to its regional proxies. ”
Australia’s foreign minister, Penny Wong said: “On the first anniversary of the incarceration that led to the tragic death of Mahsa Jina Amini, the Australian Government is imposing targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on four individuals and three entities responsible for the oppression of people in Iran, including women and girls.
This will be the first time the Australian Government has imposed targeted financial sanctions and travel bans under the recently expanded Iran autonomous sanctions framework.”
