Brussels

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday said the European Union would swiftly move to propose additional sanctions against individuals linked to the violent crackdown on protests in Iran.

In a post on X, von der Leyen said, “The rising number of casualties in Iran is horrifying. I unequivocally condemn the excessive use of force and the continued restriction of freedom.” She added that “further sanctions on those responsible for the repression will be swiftly proposed.”

The rising number of casualties in Iran is horrifying. I unequivocally condemn the excessive use of force and continued restriction of freedom.

The European Union has already listed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in its entirety under its human rights sanctions regime.…

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) January 13, 2026

Her remarks come amid sustained nationwide protests in Iran since late December, which have triggered sharply divided international responses. While some governments have characterised the unrest as foreign-instigated disturbances, others have accused Iranian authorities of using disproportionate force against demonstrators, according to Al Jazeera.

Amid the unrest, senior Iranian officials have acknowledged grievances raised by protesters, while seeking to differentiate between those driven by economic hardship and what they describe as rioters attempting to “sow discord.” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has said Tehran is not seeking war but is “prepared for all options” following threats of military action by US President Donald Trump.

Against this backdrop, Iran’s exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi has urged Trump to act “sooner rather than later” against Iran’s clerical leadership. In an interview with CBS News on Monday, Pahlavi said urgent action was needed, arguing that earlier intervention could reduce civilian casualties and bring an end to the current system of governance.

Pahlavi, who has lived in exile since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, said he has been in contact with the Trump administration, though he declined to provide details. He alleged that Tehran’s recent outreach to Washington was aimed at containing protests that threaten the authority of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Trump has said Iranian leaders contacted him to negotiate, even as he warned that the United States would intervene if protesters were killed. The US President said Washington could strike “very hard where it hurts,” while White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that all options, including airstrikes, remain under consideration.

Reports have also emerged of significant casualties. Around 2,000 people have been killed during the protests, The Times of Israel reported, citing Reuters and an Iranian official who blamed “terrorists” for the deaths. Iranian opposition groups have claimed a much higher toll, though these figures remain unverified.

Meanwhile, Iran has imposed widespread internet restrictions. The country’s National Centre for Cyberspace said access to the global internet will remain limited until security conditions improve. According to NetBlocks, the nationwide internet shutdown has continued for more than 108 hours.

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The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, expressed alarm at the situation, calling for an immediate end to the killing of peaceful demonstrators and condemning the use of force to suppress legitimate demands for change.