France is set to propose fresh European Union sanctions against Iranian officials responsible for the detention of French citizens, in a move that underscores growing international pressure on Tehran over its human rights record. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced the initiative on Monday, describing it as a firm response to Iran’s systematic practice of arbitrary arrests. He stated, “We will propose that those responsible for these arbitrary detentions be sanctioned by the European Union in the coming months.”
The announcement comes in the wake of a European Parliament resolution passed on January 24, 2025, which strongly condemned the regime’s human rights abuses and its use of political imprisonment. The resolution specifically called for the immediate and unconditional release of detained European nationals, including French citizens Olivier Grondeau, a writer and bookseller; Cécile Kohler, a teacher; and her partner, Jacques Paris. The EU legislative body also demanded the release of Ahmadreza Djalali, a Swedish-Iranian academic sentenced to death on charges widely criticized as politically motivated.
In light of Hamid Noury's release today, it's crucial to revisit the endless cycle of Western appeasement fueling #Iran's regime #terror and hostage-taking. This loop, starting with Iranian dissidents, now ensnares Western officials and citizens.https://t.co/ieaaOkZb6y
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) June 15, 2024
Tensions between Iran and European nations have escalated over Tehran’s increasing use of hostage diplomacy, a strategy that has drawn widespread condemnation. The European Parliament denounced Iran’s repeated detainment of EU nationals on dubious charges, labeling it a deliberate tactic to extract political concessions. “The Iranian regime is using hostages as bargaining chips,” the resolution stated, urging EU leaders to take stronger action against Tehran.
Beyond arbitrary detentions, the EU has also expressed alarm over Iran’s rising execution rate. The European Parliament highlighted that at least 900 people were executed in Iran in 2024, including political activists and protesters.
France’s push for EU sanctions represents a broader European effort to hold Iranian authorities accountable for human rights abuses and hostage-taking. The proposal follows previous EU measures targeting Iran’s judiciary and security officials over crackdowns on dissent. Additionally, the European Parliament has renewed calls for the EU to officially designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, further escalating diplomatic friction.