EU prolongs Iran human rights sanctions for extra year

The EU prolonged sanctions against Iran over its human rights record for another year on Tuesday, amid tensions over Tehran's support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

The sanctions include an asset freeze against 82 individuals and one entity, plus a ban on exports to Iran of equipment "which might be used for internal repression and of equipment for monitoring telecommunications".

The names will be published in the EU's Official Journal on Wednesday, a statement said.

The European Council of member states said it decided to extend the sanctions in response "to serious human rights violations in Iran".

The measures were first put in place in 2011 following a crackdown during the 2009 election and subsequent protests sparked by the Arab Spring in neighbouring countries.

They are unrelated to Iran's nuclear programme. 

The EU and other top world powers reached an agreement with Iran in 2015 on curbing its nuclear programme, resulting in an ease of economic sanctions later in January 2016.

Brussels billed the agreement as clearing the way towards improved relations with Iran but progress has been slow and tensions have risen over Tehran's continued support for Assad.

The EU, and other major powers, believe Assad must step down if there is to be peace in Syria.