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Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1397 of 15 July 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses

ST/9693/2025/INIT

OJ L, 2025/1397, 15.7.2025, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1397/oj (BG, ES, CS, DA, DE, ET, EL, EN, FR, GA, HR, IT, LV, LT, HU, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK, SL, FI, SV)

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ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1397/oj

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Official Journal
of the European Union

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2025/1397

15.7.2025

COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2025/1397

of 15 July 2025

amending Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1)	On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 (1).

(2)

On 8 December 2020, by way of the Declaration by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’), on behalf of the European Union, regarding the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, the Union and its Member States reaffirmed their strong commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime underscores the Union’s determination to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. Realising the effective enjoyment of human rights for every person is a strategic goal of the Union. Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights is a fundamental value of the Union and its common foreign and security policy.

(3)

The Union is concerned about transnational repression by Iranian state bodies through the ongoing use of proxy agents, in particular involving criminals and organised crime networks targeting dissidents and human rights defenders across the world, including on Union territory. Those criminals and organised criminal networks have been responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses such as extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary killings as well as enforced disappearances of persons critical of the actions or policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, or of persons deemed to be opponents of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

(4)	In that context, eight persons and one entity should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in the Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999.

(5)	Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:

Article 1

The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Decision.

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, 15 July 2025.

For the Council

The President

K. KALLAS

(1) Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses (OJ L 410 I, 7.12.2020, p. 13, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2020/1999/oj).

ANNEX

The Annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999 is amended as follows:

(1)

the following entries are added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities or bodies under heading ‘A. Natural persons’:

	Names (Transliteration into Latin script)	Names	Identifying information	Reasons for listing	Date of listing
‘126.	Naji Ibrahim SHARIFI-ZINDASHTI a.k.a. KENANI, Emirhan SERIFI ZINDASTI, Naci SERIFI-ZINDASTI, Naci SHARIFI ZINDASHTI, Naji SHARIFI-ZINDASHTI, Naji	ناجی ابراهیم شریفی زیندشتی (Persian spelling)	DOB:31.5.1974 POB: Zindasht or Orumiyeh, Iran Nationality: Iranian Gender: male ID: 2753229112 Associated entity: Zindashti Network	Naji Sharifi-Zindashti is an Iranian narcotics trafficker and organised crime boss. He is the leader of the Zindashti Network, a criminal group that has carried out numerous acts of transnational repression, including assassinations outside of Iran. He is connected to the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), which is the branch of the Iranian government tasked, inter alia, with assassinating persons critical of the actions or policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, or persons otherwise deemed to be opponents of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Islamic Republic of Iran. Therefore, Naji Sharifi-Zindashti is responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses outside of Iran, in particular extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings and enforced disappearance of persons.	15.7.2025
127.	Abdulvahap KOCAK a.k.a. Abdolwahab KOCAK Abdolvahab KUCHAK		POB: Adiyaman, Türkiye Nationality: Turkish Gender: male ID: Ul2429867	Abdulvahap Kocak is officially Naji Zindashti’s gardener. He also served as an assassin who has been implicated in multiple killings ordered by Naji Zindashti and executed by the Zindashti Network. In particular, Abdulvahap Kocak assassinated the Iranian dissident Mas’ud Molavi Vardanjani, a crime for which he was convicted in Türkiye. Therefore, Abdulvahap Kocak is associated with Naji Zindashti and the Zindashti Network that are responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings. He is also responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses outside of Iran, in particular extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings.	15.7.2025
128.	Ali ESFANJANI	علی اسفنجانی (Persian spelling)	DOB: 15.8.1985 Nationality: Iranian Gender: male ID: P30251288	As part of a plot by the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) and the Zindasthi Network, Ali Esfanjani befriended Iranian dissident Mas’ud Molavi Vardanjani, fed the MOIS information about him and led him to the place where he was killed by Abdulvahap Kocak. As such, Ali Esfanjani is associated with Naji Zindashti and the Zindashti Network that are responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings. He is also directly involved in an extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killing by assisting in, preparing or facilitating that killing.	15.7.2025
129.	Ali KOCAK		POB: Adiyaman Kahta, Türkiye Nationality: Iranian Gender: male ID: 20926131442	Ali Kocak is Abdulvahap Kocak’s brother and an associate of the Zindashti Network. Ali Kocak conducted surveillance on Iranian Gem TV owner, Saeed Karimian, prior to his killing and is suspected of being responsible for the killing itself. Therefore, Ali Kocak is involved in serious human rights violations or abuses, by assisting in, preparing and facilitating extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings. Furthermore, Ali Kocak is formally Naji Zindashti’s driver. Ali Kocak is therefore associated with Naji Zindashti and the Zindasthi Network that are responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings.	15.7.2025
130.	Ekrem Abdulkerym OZTUNC a.k.a. Ekrem ÖZTUNÇ		DOB: 7.10.1984 POB: Yuksekova, Türkiye Nationality: Turkish Gender: male Address: Orumiyeh, West Azerbaijan, Iran ID: U01292672	Ekrem Oztunc is a nephew of Naji Zindashti and a close Zindashti Network associate. He has played a pivotal role in relaying, through encrypted channels, the orders to kill during the Network’s assassination attempts. As such, Ekrem Oztunc is associated with Naji Zindashti and the Zindashti Network, as well as responsible for planning, ordering, assisting in or facilitating extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings and enforced disappearance of persons, which constitute serious human rights violations or abuses.	15.7.2025
131.	Mohammed Reza ANSARI		Nationality: Iranian Gender: male	Mohammed Ansari is the leader of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force Unit 840. He ordered the assassination of journalists critical of the Iranian regime, including two journalists of Iran International. Mohammed Ansari is therefore responsible for planning, assisting in, preparing and facilitating extrajudicial killings, which constitute serious human rights violations or abuses.	15.7.2025
132.	Nihat Abdul Kadir ASAN a.k.a. ASAN, Nihat ASAN, Nihat Abdulkadir EBRAHIMIHARKIAN, Ramin KURD, Ibrahim ASHAN, Nihat BAHTIYAR		DOB: 1.10.1981 or 11.11.1981 POB: Van, Türkiye Nationality: Iranian Gender: male ID: 2751062326 (Iran) Passport: U13927927 (Türkiye)	Nihat Asan is a close Zindashti Network associate, who has played a pivotal role in logistical planning for many of the network’s assassination attempts. As such, Asan is associated with Naji Zindashti and the Zindashti Network. He is also responsible for planning, ordering, assisting in or facilitating extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings, which constitute serious human rights violations or abuses.	15.7.2025
133.	Reza HAMIDIRAVARI a.k.a. Reza HAMIDI RAVARI	رضا حمیدی راوری (Persian spelling)	DOB: 31.10.1963 Nationality: Iranian Gender: male ID: V40150378	Reza Hamidiravari is an intelligence officer working for the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence (MOIS). He oversees Naji Zindashti’s MOIS-directed operations, including the killing of dissidents and critics of the Iranian regime. As such, Reza Hamidiravari is associated with Naji Zindashti and the Zindashti Network, that are responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses, including extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings.	15.7.2025’

(2)

the following entry is added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies under heading ‘B. Legal persons, entities and bodies’:

Names (Transliteration into Latin script)

Names

Identifying information

Reasons for listing

Date of listing

‘37.

The Zindashti Network a.k.a. Zindashti’s criminal network

Zindashti criminal organisation

Date of registration: 18.8.1983

Principal place of activities: Iran, Türkiye, Europe

Associated individuals: Naji Ibrahim Sharifi-Zindashti, Reza Hamidiravari, Nihat Abdul Kadir Asan, Ekrem Abdulkerym Oztunc, Ali Esfanjani, Ali Kocak, Abdulvahap Kocak

Other associated entities: Iran’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)

The Zindashti Network is a criminal group that has carried out numerous acts of transnational repression including assassinations outside of Iran.

The Zindashti Network is led by Iranian narcotics trafficker Naji Sharifi-Zindashti and is connected to the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS), which is the branch of the Iranian government tasked, inter alia, with kidnapping as well as assassinating persons critical of the actions or policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, or persons otherwise deemed to be opponents of the Islamic Republic of Iran by the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Therefore, the Zindashti Network is responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses outside of Iran, in particular extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions and killings and enforced disappearance of persons.

15.7.2025’

ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/dec/2025/1397/oj

ISSN 1977-0677 (electronic edition)

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