Associated Press – BRUSSELS — The European Union has expanded sanctions against Iran because of continued human rights abuses.

A meeting of EU foreign ministers added 29 officials linked to the regime of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to the list of people facing a visa ban and asset freeze.

British Foreign Secretary William Hague said Monday the measures were enforced to increase “the pressure on Iran to improve its appalling human rights record.”

The EU says human rights abuses have increased over the past weeks and months, including the execution of minors. It also calls for more religious freedom and an end of repression of the political opposition.

The National Council of Resistance of Iran issued a statement welcoming the sanctions and calling on the EU and the U.N. to adopt comprehensive sanctions, particularly on oil.

“The silence and inaction by the international community vis-a-vis crimes committed by the mullahs during the past 30 years has emboldened them to continue unabated with torture and killings in Iran,” the statement said.

Source : Freedom Messenger