The European Union introduces new sanctions against Iran. As the Minister of foreign Affairs of Denmark Anders Samuelsen said in his microblog on Twitter on Tuesday, January 8, punitive measures are directed against the Iranian special services “in connection with their criminal plans, which are planned in the European territory.” “A strong signal from the EU that we do not accept such behavior in Europe,” the Minister continued.

The government of the Netherlands on its website reported that the EU, partly on the recommendation of Haaga, imposed sanctions against the Iranian Ministry of information, the head of the security services, as well as two Iranians. The reason was the accusation of involvement in the preparation of attacks on the territory of the EU, the report goes on. Brussels expects that Iran will cooperate to answer the questions that have arisen to it, and if necessary, will help the investigation.

The Dutch intelligence services have “good reason” to believe that Iran is involved in the attack on two Danish citizens of Iranian origin, who criticized Tehran’s policy. The incidents occurred in Almer in 2015 and in Haaga in 2017. In the summer of 2018, the Iranian Ambassador was summoned to the Dutch foreign Ministry in connection with the incident, two employees of the Iranian Embassy were expelled from the country.

Sanctions against Iran will enter into force on January 9

The source of the DPA news Agency in diplomatic circles in Brussels said that the penalties were agreed by the Ministers for European Affairs of the EU on January 8 and will enter into force the next day. They include bans on entry and freezing of assets in the EU countries.

In July 2018 in Belgium was detained two people who allegedly planned to commit a terrorist attack at the event, which brought together 25 thousand supporters of the banned in Iran organization “Volksmuddzahedin”. At the end of September, according to the Danish intelligence service, it was prevented an attack on a group of Iranians living in Denmark, advocating for the independence of the region around the Iranian city of Ahvaz. In both cases, the investigators placed the responsibility on the Iranian special services. Tehran has rejected its possible involvement.