Australia is imposing targeted sanctions on Iran over grievous human rights situation after the death of Mahsa 'Jina' Amini, who was arrested for not wearing a hijab. Protests erupted nationwide in Iran after the 22-year-old Kurdish-Iranian woman died on 16 September while in custody of the state's Morality Police.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced on Saturday that Australia would impose human rights sanctions on Iran's Morality Police, the Basij Resistance Force - a paramilitary group - and six Iranian individuals involved in the violent crackdown on protesters.
Australia has also announced sanctions on seven Russian individuals involved in the attempted assassination of former opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Additionally, the government has joined international efforts to impose financial sanctions on three Iranians and a business involved in the design, development and supply of drones to Russia for use in its war against Ukraine. These include three Iranian generals - Mohammad Hossein Bagheri, Saeed Aghajani and Amir Ali Hajizadeh - and the aerospace company Shahed Aviation Industries.
"Australia stands with the people of Ukraine and with the people of Iran," Senator Wong said in a joint statement with Assistant Foreign Affairs Minister Tim Watts.
"We employ every strategy at our disposal towards upholding human rights - ranging from dialogue and diplomacy to sanctions - consistent with our values and our interests."
The Magnitsky-style sanctions announced on Saturday will apply to 13 individuals and two entities.
