EU Bans Iranian Diplomats, Prepares New Sanctions as Protest Death Toll Mounts
European Parliament bars all Iranian officials from premises as rights groups report up to 16,000 killed in crackdown. Fresh sanctions expected.
European Parliament bans all Iranian diplomats from its premises as the bloc prepares fresh sanctions against the Islamic Republic over its deadly crackdown on protesters.
The move, announced by Parliament President Roberta Metsola, comes as estimates of protesters killed range from 3,300 to more than 16,000, with rights groups calling the crackdown one of the largest massacres in modern Iranian history.
"This House will not aid in legitimising this regime that has sustained itself through torture, repression, and murder," Metsola said.
Unprecedented Crackdown
Protests erupted across Iran on December 28 following the collapse of the Iranian rial amid soaring inflation. Demonstrations have since spread to all 31 provinces, with millions taking to the streets calling for the removal of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
The Iran Human Rights Organisation, based in Norway, said at least 3,428 protesters were killed by security forces between January 8 and 12. Figures compiled by a network of Iranian doctors, reported by The Sunday Times, put the total death toll at between 16,500 and 18,000, with 330,000 injured.
In a speech broadcast by state media on January 17, Khamenei acknowledged that "several thousand" people had been killed. An Iranian official told Reuters that government estimates put the death toll at over 5,000.
The Iranian authorities have imposed a near-total internet shutdown since January 8, severely limiting information reaching the outside world. Videos have slowly emerged thanks to Starlink satellite internet terminals.
European Solidarity
Solidarity demonstrations have taken place across Europe. In Germany, thousands gathered carrying the pre-revolution Lion and Sun flag alongside Israeli flags. In London, more than 30,000 people rallied in support of protesters, with one man scaling the Iranian embassy to tear down the Islamic Republic flag.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer issued a joint statement expressing deep concern over the violence. Merz stated on January 13 that "we are now witnessing the final days and weeks of this regime."
The EU's foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has pushed for new sanctions, with the European External Action Service saying it "stands ready to propose new sanctions" using a "dedicated legal framework" to target individuals and entities accused of serious human rights violations.
"I am self aware enough I am watching historic events unfold before my eyes. Generations of Iranians to come will be told stories about what I am witnessing in real time." - @MrEthicalPie
Pressure Mounts for IRGC Terrorist Designation
European momentum is building to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation. A unanimous EU decision is required for listing, with a German court case linked to a synagogue attack strengthening the legal rationale.
However, France, Spain, and Italy remain cautious, arguing a listing could jeopardise channels needed for detainee releases amid so-called "hostage diplomacy." More than 230 Iranians, including interior minister Ahmad Vahidi and members of the IRGC, are already subject to EU sanctions including travel bans and asset freezes.
Rights groups including Amnesty International have called for the UN Security Council to convene emergency sessions and for the situation to be referred to the International Criminal Court.
The European approach to Iran stands in contrast to the unilateral actions seen elsewhere. While Europe has rallied behind Ukraine with commitments of over 200 billion euros and coordinated diplomatic pressure on Russia, the bloc's response to Iran relies on targeted sanctions, diplomatic isolation, and support for civil society rather than military intervention.
What Comes Next
Iranian authorities have warned that protesters could face the death penalty. The military has accused foreign "enemies" of fuelling the unrest and urged citizens to remain alert to what it described as "enemy plots."
State media said around 100 people had been detained, though rights groups put the figure at over 10,000 arrests during the peak of unrest.
The protests represent the largest anti-government demonstrations in Iran since 2022, when nationwide unrest erupted following the death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody.
January 21, 2026