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Albania and 7 Other Countries Align Themselves With EU Sanctions’ List, Including Those Targeting Iran’s Regime

Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning the list of persons, groups and entities subject to the application of specific measures to combat terrorism
Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning the list of persons, groups and entities subject to the application of specific measures to combat terrorism

Eight countries including Albania aligned themselves with the European Unions’ blacklisting of the terrorists organizations and individuals, including those affiliated with the Iranian regime, on February 25, 2020.

The Council of the European Union expanded the EU’s terrorist list, which includes individuals, groups and entities that are subjected to restrictive measures aimed at combating terrorism.


The individuals, groups and entities listed are subjected to the freezing of their financial resources and other financial assets in the EU. It is also forbidden for EU businessowners to cooperate with these people and entities.  

The Council of Ministers of the European Union first compiled the list as the implementation of Resolution 1373 in 2001 following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The Council reviews the list in turn at least every six months based on a regular exchange of information between Member States on any facts or developments related to the listings.

The European Union statement then cited the bureau of the Iranian regime’s Ministry of Intelligence and Security (MOIS) as a sanctioned entity as well as the names those individuals previously listed. This list also includes the name of Qassem Soleimani, now eliminated head of the Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) Quds Force. Other regime’s terrorists are as follows: 

– Asadollah Asadi, the first diplomat-terrorist arrested with the regime’s diplomatic passport during a foiled bombing plot against the “Free Iran” annual gathering in Paris in June 2018, held by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI).  

– Mansour Arbab Siar and Ali Ghulam Shakouri, terrorists in charge of the regime’s foiled assassination plot of the Saudi Arabia’s ambassador in the United States.  

-Abd al-Reza Shahla’i and Hamed Abdullahi, commanders of the Quds Force.  

The declaration is as follows:  

“Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning the list of persons, groups and entities subject to the application of specific measures to combat terrorism 

On 13 January 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/20[1]. 

The Council Decision updates the list of persons and entities involved in terrorist acts as laid down by EU Common Position 2001/931 of 27 December 2001. 

The Candidate Countries Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania[2], the country of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the EFTA country Iceland, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this decision. 

They will ensure that their national policies conform to this Council Decision. 

The European Union takes note of this commitment and welcomes it.”