Iran criticises fresh EU sanctions targeting ministers

AFP - Iran on Tuesday criticised fresh European Union sanctions targeting 29 of its officials, including three government ministers, over alleged human rights abuses, Fars news agency reported.

"Unfortunately, the sanctions adopted by the European Union on allegations of human rights and peaceful nuclear activities issues are the wrong action," foreign ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast was quoted as saying in Moscow, where he is holding talks with Russian officials.

"They seem to want to put pressure on our nation to give up its rights," he said, while advising "Western countries to respect the rights of other nations and not to intervene in the internal affairs of other countries."

The Iranian ministers for intelligence, culture and justice -- Heydar Moslehi, Mohammad Hosseini and Morteza Bakhtiari -- are among 29 people targeted by new EU sanctions that include visa bans and asset freezes within the bloc.

Former interior minister Sadeq Mahsouli and the head of the Iranian police's computer crimes squad are also on the list for investigating opposition figures using the Internet, diplomatic sources told AFP.

Iran has already been hit by other EU sanctions for its disputed nuclear programme, which the West fears is being used to acquire a weapons capability, a charge Tehran has repeatedly denied.