European Union envoys have approved a new round of sanctions targeting 19 Iranian officials and entities accused of serious human rights violations, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday.

The measures were agreed as the war involving Iran continues, with EU officials stressing that the bloc intends to hold those responsible for domestic repression accountable.

“As the Iran war continues, the EU will protect its interests and pursue those responsible for domestic repression,” Kallas said in a post on X. She added that the sanctions also send a signal to Tehran that “Iran’s future cannot be built on repression.”

Sanctions Await Final Approval

The sanctions package, which had been under preparation before the outbreak of the current conflict, still requires formal approval from the Council of the European Union before it can take effect.