Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2026/265 of 29 January 2026 implementing Decision 2011/235/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran

Official Journal EN of the European Union L series 2026/265 29.1.2026 COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING DECISION (CFSP) 2026/265 of 29 January 2026 implementing Decision 2011/235/CFSP concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 31(2) thereof, Having regard to Council Decision 2011/235/CFSP of 12 April 2011 concerning restrictive measures directed against certain persons and entities in view of the situation in Iran(1), and in particular Article 3(1) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Whereas: (1) On 12 April 2011, the Council adopted Decision 2011/235/CFSP. (2) The Council conclusions of 12 December 2022 stressed that the Union strongly rejected Iran’s practice of arbitrary detention of foreign citizens, including dual nationals, and called upon Iran to end the distressing practice of detaining innocent foreign civilians with a view to making political gains. The Union reminded Iran of its international obligations under the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations and urged the Iranian authorities to abide by those obligations. (3) On 9 January 2026, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a statement on behalf of the Union noting with great concern the reports on casualties and condemning the use of violence, arbitrary detention and intimidation tactics by security forces against demonstrators. The statement called for all individuals unjustly detained for exercising their fundamental rights to be released immediately and urged Iranian authorities to adhere to Iran’s international obligations and fully uphold the rights to freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly. It also called for ensuring the right of access to information, including by restoring access to the internet for all. (4) In that context, and in line with the Union’s commitment to address all issues of concern with Iran, including the human rights situation, 15 persons and six entities should be included in the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures set out in the Annex to Decision 2011/235/CFSP. (5) Decision 2011/235/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The Annex to Decision 2011/235/CFSP is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision. (1) OJ L 100, 14.4.2011, p. 51, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2011/235/oj. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/265/oj 1/13EN OJ L, 29.1.2026 Article 2 This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Done at Brussels, 29 January 2026. For the Council The President K. KALLAS 2/13 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/265/ojANNEX The following persons and entities are added to the list of persons and entities set out in the Annex to Decision 2011/235/CFSP: Persons Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing ‘245. Eskandar MOMENI Function: Minister of the Interior; Head of the Eskandar Momeni is Iran’s Minister of the Interior and Head of the National Security 29.1.2026 National Security Council; Council. In this role, he oversees Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF), which are ﯽﻨﻣﺆﻣ ﺭﺪﻨﮑﺳﺍ responsible for blatant and severe human rights violations in the country. Momeni Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic also serves as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) (IRGC) and in this capacity oversees different security forces of the IRGC, including DOB: 1962 the Basij Resistance Force. In his dual role, Momeni is responsible for suppressing street protests, which have seen hundreds of casualties at the hands of different POB: Qaem Shahr, Iran security forces under his control. Momeni was also put in charge of an investigation into the death in August 2024 of Mohammad Mirmousavi, who was tortured to death Nationality: Iranian by security forces, and Momeni exonerated the security forces in that case by blaming Gender: male the victim. Eskandar Momeni is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. 246. Mohammad MOVAHEDI-AZAD Function: Prosecutor General Mohammad Movahedi-Azad is Prosecutor General and has held a series of important 29.1.2026 offices in Iran’s judicial system, especially in Tehran. During his professional career he ﺩﺍﺯﺁ ﯼﺪﺣﻮﻣ ﺪﻤﺤﻣ DOB: 6.9.1960 has issued and upheld unfair sentences, in particular against protesters and minorities, POB: Qom, Iran sought to suppress dissent and freedom of expression, and overseen torture. During the nationwide protests in Iran that began in December 2025, in his capacity as Nationality: Iranian Prosecutor General he threatened protesters with the death penalty for “enmity against God” and called for the seizure of their assets. Gender: male Mohammad Movahedi-Azad is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/265/oj 3/13 OJ L, 29.1.2026 ENName Identifying information Reasons Date of listing 247. Seyed Majid Feiz JAFARI Function: Chief of the Public Security Police Seyed Majid Feiz Jafari is Chief of the Public Security Police. In this position he has 29.1.2026 played an active role in the violent suppression of peaceful protests. The Public ﯼﺮﻔﻌﺟ ﺾﯿﻓ ﺪﯿﺠﻣ ﺪﯿﺳ Nationality: Iranian Security Police systematically uses violence and methods of intimidation against Gender: male protesters and activists, thereby violating their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. Seyed Majid Feiz Jafari is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. 248. Ahmad Ali FAIZULLAHI Function: Commander of the Islamic Ahmad Ali Faizullahi is the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 29.1.2026 Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Saberin (IRGC) Saberin Takavar Special Forces Brigade, an elite special operations force within ﯽﻬﻠﻟﺍ ﺾﯿﻓ ﯽﻠﻋﺪﻤﺣﺍ Takavar Special Forces Brigade the Ground Forces of the IRGC. The Saberin Takavar Special Forces Brigade has been directly involved in the violent suppression of protests in Iran and in committing DOB: 1966 or 1967 serious human rights violations, including in relation to the nationwide protests in Nationality: Iranian Iran that began in December 2025. Gender: male Ahmad Ali Faizullahi is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. 249. Iman AFSHARI Function: Presiding judge of Branch 26 of Iman Afshari is the presiding judge of Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court. In 29.1.2026 Tehran’s Revolutionary Court this capacity, he has played a pivotal role in upholding the oppressive policies of the Iranian regime, by issuing death sentences and lengthy prison terms against political Nationality: Iranian prisoners, human rights activists, and ethnic and religious minorities. Gender: male Iman Afshari is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. 4/13 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/265/oj EN OJ L, 29.1.2026Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing 250. Ali Abdollahi ALIABADI Function: Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi is the Commander of Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, 29.1.2026 Central Headquarters which oversees coordination between the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Iranian Army. As Commander he oversees, coordinates and plans all Iranian DOB: 1959 military operations that involve multiple branches of the Iranian Armed Forces, such POB: Aliabad, Rudbar County, Iran as the Police, IRGC and Army. Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters therefore also plays a significant role in the roll-out of widespread crackdowns and repression with Nationality: Iranian the use of excessive violence. Under Aliabadi’s command of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the Iranian Armed Forces have arrested, beaten, tortured and Gender: male killed Iranians. Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. 251. Ruhollah Momen NASAB Function: Head of the Tehran branch of the Ruhollah Momen Nasab is head of the Tehran branch of a government body called 29.1.2026 government body “the Headquarters for “the Headquarters for Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice”, which ultimately Promoting Virtue and Preventing Vice” answers to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Under Nasab’s initiative, this body established a “Chastity and Hijab” Unit which aims to monitor women’s attire in Iran. DOB: 21.1.1981 In addition, Ruhollah Momen Nasab has participated in online disinformation Nationality: Iranian campaigns, conducted by creating fake accounts using the names of well-known Gender: male individuals. Furthermore, Ruhollah Momen Nasab is one of the main designers of the Protection of Cyberspace plan, which aims to restrict citizens’ access to the free internet in Iran so that the use of social networks such as Instagram and WhatsApp, and of Google services and other email services, will become impossible for citizens. Ruhollah Momen Nasab is hence violating the rights to freedom of information and expression of the Iranian people, and is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/265/oj 5/13 OJ L, 29.1.2026 ENName Identifying information Reasons Date of listing 252. Haidar OLFATI Function: Commander of the Islamic Haidar Olfati is Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Ilam 29.1.2026 Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Ilam Province. a.k.a. Heydar OLFATI Province Under his command, IRGC forces in Ilam Province have been involved in the violent Nationality: Iranian repression of demonstrations, including during the nationwide protests in Iran that began in December 2025 where IRGC forces opened fire on peaceful protesters, Gender: male resulting in deaths and injuries. As Commander of the IRGC in Ilam Province, Haidar Olfati is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran, including violations of the right to life and the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. 253. Morteza SHEYKHI Function: Commander of the Islamic Morteza Sheykhi has been Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 29.1.2026 Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) in Azna (IRGC) in Azna County, Lorestan Province, since 2024. Under his command, IRGC ﯽﺨﯿﺷ ﯽﻀﺗﺮﻣ County forces in Azna County have been involved in the violent repression of a.k.a. Morteza SHEIKHI demonstrations, including during the nationwide protests in Iran that began in Nationality: Iranian December 2025, where IRGC forces opened fire on protesters, resulting in deaths and Gender: male injuries. As Commander of the IRGC in Azna County, Morteza Sheykhi is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. 6/13 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/265/oj EN OJ L, 29.1.2026Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing 254. Seyed Ali-Asghar Function: Commander of the Islamic Seyed Ali-Asghar Pourbehesht is Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard 29.1.2026 POURBEHESHT Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Basij Corps (IRGC) and of the Basij Resistance Force in Kohgiluyeh County. Resistance Force of Kohgiluyeh County The Basij Resistance Force is a volunteer paramilitary organisation operating under Nationality: Iranian the IRGC with branches throughout Iran. The Basij Resistance Force was one of the forces ordered by the Iranian Government to violently quell the September 2022 Gender: male protests. The IRGC and Basij forces have also been involved in the violent repression of the nationwide protests in Iran that began in December 2025 and which has resulted in numerous casualties and arbitrary detention, including in Kohgiluyeh County. Therefore, in his capacity as Commander of the IRGC and of the Basij Resistance Force, Seyed Ali-Asghar Pourbehesht is responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran, including the right to life and the rights to freedom of expression and assembly. 255. Alireza NOSHAD Function: Police Commander of Marvdasht Alireza Noshad is the Police Commander of Marvdasht County and a member of the 29.1.2026 County and a member of the Marvdasht Marvdasht County Security Council. In this capacity, Alireza Noshad directed the a.k.a. Alireza NOWSHAD County Security Council violent repression of the nationwide protests in Iran that began in December 2025, resulting in deaths and injuries. Nationality: Iranian Alireza Noshad is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. Gender: male ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/265/oj 7/13 OJ L, 29.1.2026 ENName Identifying information Reasons Date of listing 256. Rasoul JALILI Function: Member of the Supreme Council of Rasoul Jalili is a member of Iran’s Supreme Council of Cyberspace (SCC), an entity 29.1.2026 Cyberspace; academic researcher at and listed by the Union. ﯽﻠﯿﻠﺟ ﻝﻮﺳﺭ President of Sharif University of Technology In this role, he has been involved in the development of censorship and surveillance DOB: 1961 tools and is involved in the Sharif Opening Plan, a tiered system for internet access in Iran that discriminates between individuals based on their professional and social POB: Eqlid, Fars, Iran status. The SCC is also responsible for coordinating the access restrictions to the Nationality: Iranian internet in order to prevent or oppress protests and to limit access to open and free information. Gender: male Through his role in the SCC, Rasoul Jalili is violating the rights to freedom of information and expression of the Iranian people. Rasoul Jalili is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran and is associated with the Supreme Council of Cyberspace, an entity responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. 257. Masoud MOSADEGH Function: Brigadier General; Commander of Masoud Mosadegh is the Commander of the Special Units of Iran’s Law Enforcement 29.1.2026 Special Units of Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces Forces (LEF Special Units). The LEF Special Units have on many occasions been ﻕﺪﺼﻣ ﺩﻮﻌﺴﻣ (LEF Special Units) deployed to violently supress peaceful protests, killing and injuring civilians. This was a.k.a. Masoud MOSSADEGH also the case in the nationwide protests in Iran that began in December 2025. Nationality: Iran a.k.a. Masoud MOSADDEQ Masoud Mosadegh is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. Gender: male 8/13 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/265/oj EN OJ L, 29.1.2026Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing 258. Mohsen EBRAHIMI Function: Commander of the Mohsen Ebrahimi is the Commander of Iran’s Counter-Terrorism Special Force 29.1.2026 Counter-Terrorism Special Force (NOPO) (NOPO), an entity listed by the Union. NOPO is a subdivision of the Special Units of ﯽﻤﯿﻫﺍﺮﺑﺍ ﻦﺴﺤﻣ Iran’s Law Enforcement Forces (LEF). NOPO is a highly trained specialised unit often Nationality: Iranian deployed to dissolve protests. NOPO has used excessive violence and lethal force Gender: male against unarmed protestors, including women and children. Its human rights violations have been documented throughout various protests, including the nationwide protests in Iran that began in December 2025. Mohsen Ebrahimi is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. 259. Mohsen FATHIZADEH Function: Head of the Protection and Mohsen Fathizadeh is the Head of the Protection and Intelligence Organization of the 29.1.2026’ Intelligence Organization of the Law Law Enforcement Forces (LEF) in Iran. ﻩﺩﺍﺯ ﯽﺤﺘﻓ ﻦﺴﺤﻣ Enforcement Forces (LEF) The mission of the Protection and Intelligence Organization is to provide intelligence a.k.a. Mohsen FATHI ZADEH Military Rank: Brigadier General of the Islamic support to the police command and thereby ensure internal security in Iran. Agents Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) under Mohsen Fathizadeh’s command have arbitrarily arrested activists, violently suppressed peaceful protesters and enforced the strict hijab regulations. Furthermore, Nationality: Iranian the LEF has on many occasions been deployed to violently supress peaceful protests, Gender: male killing and injuring civilians. National ID No: 4839651760 Mohsen Fathizadeh is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/265/oj 9/13 OJ L, 29.1.2026 ENEntities Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing ‘46. Iranian Audio-Visual Address: No. 234, Motahari St., Tehran, Iran The Audio-Visual Media Regulatory Authority (SATRA) is a government body that is 29.1.2026 Media Regulatory responsible for monitoring online and video content published in Iran, including PO Box:1588874611 Authority (SATRA) entertainment products shown on privately owned streaming platforms. SATRA operates Place of registration: Iran under the supervision of the state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) and ﺕﺍﺭﺮﻘﻣ ﻢﯿﻈﻨﺗ ﻥﺎﻣﺯﺎﺳ is therefore associated with IRIB, an entity listed by the Union. ﺮﯾﻮﺼﺗ ﻭ ﺕﻮﺻ ﯼﺎﻫ ﻪﻧﺎﺳﺭ Date of registration: 2016 - ﯼﺯﺎﺠﻣ ﯼﺎﻀﻓ ﺭﺩ ﺮﯿﮔﺍﺮﻓ As part of its activities, SATRA censors political and cultural content, such as dissenting ﺍﺮﺗﺎﺳ political views expressed in television shows and in films, and depictions of alcohol consumption, smoking and the lack of hijab. By censoring media content, SATRA violates the rights to freedom of expression and information of the Iranian people and the freedom and pluralism of the media. SATRA is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. 47. Seraj Cyberspace Place of registration: Fars, Iran Seraj Cyberspace Organization was established by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 29.1.2026 Organization (IRGC) to support the IRGC’s apparatus by recruiting, training and mobilising pro-regime Website: https://seraj.ir/ internet users. Date of registration: 2013 Seraj Cyberspace Organization’s operations include trolling campaigns on social media, spreading disinformation and misinformation online, trending pro-regime hashtags and engineering divisions among the Iranian opposition. Accounts related to Seraj Cyberspace Organization are also used to spread abusive content against the Islamic Republic’s opponents and to attack political opponents online. Seraj Cyberspace Organization is hence violating the rights to freedom of information and expression of the Iranian people. Seraj Cyberspace Organization is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. 10/13 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/265/oj EN OJ L, 29.1.2026Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing 48. Working Group for Address: Sure-Esrafil St, Tehran, Iran The Working Group for Determining Instances of Criminal Content (WGDICC) is a judicial 29.1.2026 Determining Instances body that operates under the Iranian Attorney General’s Office and the Ministry of Justice. Place of registration: Sure-Esrafil St, Tehran, of Criminal Content Iran It is tasked with filtering and censoring the internet in Iran. To do so, it collaborates with ﻖﯾﺩﺎﺼﻣ ﻦﯿﯿﻌﺗ ﻩﻭﺮﮔﺭﺎﮐ several companies and media outlets to develop and deploy surveillance and censorship tools. Website: http://internet.ir ﻪﻧﺎﻣﺮﺠﻣ ﯼﺍﻮﺘﺤﻣ Those include tools that aim to reduce bandwidth, block international social media platforms and block unauthorised VPNs. Furthermore, the WGDICC is involved with filtering a.k.a. WGDICC information considered contrary to the values and security of the Iranian regime. a.k.a. Commission to In this way, the WGDICC is systemically limiting access to independent information and Determine the limiting Iranian citizens’ freedom to express their views, to communicate with each other and Instances of Criminal to organise themselves in order to give effect to the freedom of assembly, in particular through Content (CDICC) the use of online platforms such as social media. The WGDICC is thus responsible for severe a.k.a. The Filtering violations of the rights to freedom of information, expression and assembly of the Iranian Committee people. The WGDICC is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. a.k.a. Internet Blocking Censory Committee ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/265/oj 11/13 OJ L, 29.1.2026 ENName Identifying information Reasons Date of listing 49. Yaftar Pazhohan Address: No.37, Unit 13, Qasemi Street, Yaftar is a company in Iran that collaborates with the Working Group for Determining 29.1.2026 Pishtaz Rayanesh Habibollah Street, Azadi Avenue, Tehran, Instances of Criminal Content (WGDICC). Limited Company 1576984418, Iran Yaftar contributes to the widespread disruption of access to the internet by developing a.k.a. Yaftar Address: No. 56, 4th and 5th floors, Ghasemi surveillance and repression tools. Yaftar is one of the main contractors working on online Alley, Shahid Akbari Boulevard, Azadi St, censorship in Iran and is involved in website and app internet blocking and censoring. a.k.a. Yaftar Company Tehran, Iran Specifically, Yaftar is developing systems to collect data from search engines in order to identify and censor content that is considered “criminal” by the WGDICC. Yaftar has also cooperated Type of entity: Limited Company with the Iranian Attorney General’s Office in blocking VPNs. Furthermore, Yaftar works on Registration number: 436501 image analysis and facial recognition. National ID No: 10320862133 Through its activities, Yaftar is significantly limiting access to independent information and Iranian citizens’ freedom of expression. Yaftar is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. 50. Douran Software Address: No. 62, 1st floor, Shahid Farshad Douran Software Technologies is an Iranian software company involved in internet blocking 29.1.2026 Technologies ayyazi (9th), Shahid Abdolhamid Sabunchi St., and censoring activities. It provides traffic analysis tools and censorship, internet filtering and Shahid Beheshti Ave., Tehran, 1533763811, blocking of VPN equipment to Iranian internet providers. ﻥﺍﺭﻭﺩ ﻩﻭﺮﮔ Iran Douran Software Technologies is involved in the National Information Network projects and a.k.a. Douran Group Place of registration: Iran cooperates among others with the Working Group for Determining Instances of Criminal a.k.a. Douran Content (WGDICC) and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) to limit access to Date of registration: 4.10.2004 Information international websites. Technologies Registration No: 231475 Douran Software Technologies is therefore violating the rights to freedom of information, a.k.a. Douran Software National ID No: 10102527140 assembly and expression of the Iranian people, by blocking vital internet access. Website: www.douran.ir Douran Software Technologies is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. 12/13 ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/265/oj EN OJ L, 29.1.2026Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing 51. Masaf Institute Place of registration: Iran The Masaf Institute is an organisation founded in 2011 by Ali Akbar Raefipour. 29.1.2026’ Date of registration: June 2011 The Masaf Institute plays a key role in silencing political opposition, by engaging in “doxxing” and smear campaigns against anti-regime Iranians. It develops pro-regime cyber armies, orchestrates online attacks and disseminates disinformation, with the aim of identifying political dissenters. It has been involved in coordinated “doxxing” campaigns led by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), leading to the detention of political dissenters. The Masaf Institute serves as a propaganda outlet for the Islamic Republic through the use of multiple tools, such as video clips, documentaries, short films, games, software, music, graphics, cartoons, illustrations and analysis of political events. In doing so, the Masaf Institute is violating the rights to freedom of information, assembly and expression of the Iranian people. The Masaf Institute is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations in Iran. ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec_impl/2026/265/oj 13/13 OJ L, 29.1.2026 EN