The government of New Zealand has announced travel bans against 40 Iranian officials in response to what it described as a violent crackdown on protesters in Iran.
Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the sanctions target individuals accused of serious human rights violations.
Those affected include Iran’s interior and intelligence ministers, the prosecutor general, and members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Peters described the scale of violence against demonstrators as deeply disturbing.
“It has been horrifying to witness the brutal killing of thousands of protestors in Iran,” he said, condemning the reported deaths of large numbers of civilians.
The New Zealand government said the move aligns it with international partners, including Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, and the United States, all of which have imposed similar restrictions.
Iran’s embassy in Wellington rejected the sanctions, describing them as politically motivated and based on what it termed inaccurate information.
In a statement, the embassy argued that countries backing US-led sanctions lacked the moral authority to criticise Iran on human rights grounds.
Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour also condemned Tehran’s actions, accusing Iranian authorities of killing large numbers of their own citizens to maintain control.
He said those responsible should face consequences, including being barred from entering New Zealand.
The travel bans mark New Zealand’s latest diplomatic response to the unrest in Iran and signal continued international pressure on Tehran over its handling of protests.
